Voting is underway in American Samoa with more than 16,000 people registered to vote in the US territory.
Electors sign the voter roll before casting ballots at the Ili’ili village polling station, today, during the American Samoa General election. 4 November 2020 Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Fili Sagapolutele
Electors are casting ballots for the gubernatorial race - to elect the governor and lieutenant governor; for the territory's Delegate to the US House of Representatives and 20 or the 21 members of the local House.
The Swains Island seat was already decided in a meeting last week, with incumbent Su'a Alexander Jennings returning for an eighth term.
Prior to polls open today 1,601 absentee ballots had already been. Of these, 892 are outside or off island absentee ballots and 709 are local absentee votes.
There 41-designated polling stations in the territory and the chief election officer, Lealaofi Uiagalelei, urged American Samoans to exercise their democratic right and vote.
During polling an alcohol ban is in place and the deputy commissioner of public safety Falanaipupu Taase Sagapolutele who was at the Election office this morning said police will be stationed at the Election Office until all the ballot boxes are returned.