Voting is underway in Samoa to elect 45 of the 49 members of Parliament.
Voting booths opened an hour earlier than usual, at 8am, and are set to close at 3pm, Samoa time.
There are 164 candidates contesting the election today, 81 from the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, 23 from the opposition Tautua Samoa Party and 60 independent candidates.
This is the first year women candidates have been guaranteed five of the 49 seats in Parliament, and this year boasts a record 24 women candidates.
One woman candidate, the caretaker Minister of Justice, Fiame Naomi Mataafa has already secured her place in Parliament, running unopposed in the Lotofaga constituency.
The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is among the three other candidates unopposed.
RNZI’s correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia said the Tautua Samoa party leader, Palusalue Faapo II, faces a tough contest in his constituency.
He said an amendment to the electoral act reduced all constituenies with two seats in Parliament, to just one seat, and Palusalue’s ‘Sapata Sifo’ constituency is one them.
Results are expected to start coming in from as early as 4pm onwards, and a
