Student voters approved 10 of the 11 proposed constitutional amendments, which will be on the ballot for the November 8th midterm election.
Results of the Department of Education (DOE) student referendum, held October 19th, were released yesterday by the Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations.
560 juniors and seniors of both private and public high schools cast ballots.
On the proposed amendment for appointment by the Governer of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices subject to confirmation by the Fono, 373 voted yes and 184 voted no.
On the amendment stating that the Secretary of the Interior shall not have the power to change the decision of the High Court of American Samoa, 301 voted yes and 250 voted no.
On the veto override power, that is the Secretary of the Interior shall not have the power to change the Legislature’s override of the Governor’s veto, 294 voted yes and 262 voted no.
On the addition of one seat each in the House of Representatives for Ituau and Tuala-uta, increasing the number of seats in the House from 20 to 22, 353 voted yes and 294 voted no.
On the amendment to include Malaeimi in Representative District #12-Ituau, 348 voted yes and 211 voted no.
The amendment to give the delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives received 299 yes votes and 256 no votes.
On the amendment to restore five senators for Manu’a, which means two new Senate seats for Manu’a will be added, increasing the number of Senators from 18 to 20, 397 voted yes and 245 voted no.
On the amendment for an impeachment process of the Governor and Lt. Governor, 405 voted yes and 155 voted no.
The amendment to change Government of American Samoa to American Samoa Government received 338 yes votes and 216 no votes.
The amendment to change Leasina to Leasina ma Aitulagi got 334 yes votes and 221 no votes.
The one amendment that wasn’t approved by the student voters was the one to change Ma’uputasi to Ma’oputasi, 278 voted yes and 274 voted no, which is short of the required 50% to pass.
Click here for the full results of the student referundum: DOE-Student-Referendum-Results-1
Don’t forget the Department of Youth and Women Affairs and the American Samoa Bar Association are hosting a question and answer forum on the proposed amendments, this evening from 5pm to 6:30 pm at the Lee Auditorium.
