Pacific / American Samoa

Election candidates make final appearances in American Samoa

17:33 pm on 3 November 2020

Gubernatorial candidates in American Samoa have made their final public appearances ahead of tomorrow's elections.

There are four camps in the running for the governor and lieutenant governor roles and all have road side waves scheduled throughout the day.

Tomorrow 41 polling locations on Tutuila, Aunuu and Manu'a will open for voters to elect the governor and lieutenant governor for the next four years as well as the delegate to congress and 20 of the 21 members of the House of Representatives for the next four years.

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The candidates for each gubernatorial camp are, senate president Gaoteote Palaie Tofau and senator Faiivae Alex Iuli - Lt governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and former attorney general Talauega Eleasalo Ale - Director of the retirement office I'aulualo Faafetai Talia and director of the political status office, senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua - and Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr who is deputy director of the office for the protection and advocacy for the disabled.

Three women are vying for American Samoa's seat in the US House of Representatives including the incumbent Aumua Amata Radewagen, former chief procurement officer Oreta Tufaga Mapu Crichton and former contender Meleagi Suitupu Chapman.

Meleagi is among more than 500 American Samoa residents stranded on the US mainland due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, 51 candidates are running for 20 of the 21 seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives.

The Swains Island seat already been decided in a meeting last week , with incumbent Su'a Alexander Jennings returning for an 8th term.

As of Monday, 1,365 of the 16,343 people registered to vote have cast absentee ballots.