Samoa will introduce pre-polling for the first time in the country’s next general elections 12 weeks from now.
Samoa Observer reports the eligible groups are citizens over 65 or citizens with disabilities and their caregivers, citizens working in essential services and citizens traveling out of the country during polling week.
Pre-polling or early voting has been used twice before but only in two by-elections.
“It’s a new addition to elections,” explained Samoa’s Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio.
Applications for pre-polling are now being accepted until March 26th.
Early voting will be available from 12 midnight on April 5th until 4:00 p.m. on April 8th.
