Opinion

Tuilaepa: “The staff of the electoral office are not machines, they need rest”

September 2, 2025

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Press Release, Human Rights Protection Party.

Tues 2nd September 2025.

The leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has today called on the Commissioner of the Electoral Office to use his commonsense to ensure staff are given time to rest during the vote counting process currently underway.

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Tuilaepa said he feels for staff who are being “worked to the bone” and not given rest.

“Even candidate committee members are being called upon to work these long hours without rest, that is nonsense,” he said.

The former Prime Minister said this is the reason many mistakes have been discovered during the vote counting process.

“The staff of the electoral office are not machines, they need rest, and the commissioner needs to look at reducing hours,” said Tuilaepa.

He said there should not be a problem with security as police are there “round the clock” and working shifts.

Staff of OEC have been seen on social media lying around under stadium seats trying to get rest, raising concern for their health.

“They are likely to end up being sick if the commissioner does not do something about reducing hours. We can all wait for results, but we can’t have staff ending up sick after this process,” said Tuilaepa.

CONTACT: Tuiasau Uelese Petaia HRPP MEDIA UNIT (685) 757 5423 tuiasau@gmail.com