Voting began at 6:30 this morning at the American Samoa Democratic Party Presidential Caucus taking place at the DWYA Center in Tafuna.
While voters in the territory do not cast ballots for president of the United States, the Democratic and Republican presidential caucuses are when voters get to vote on who the party will nominate for the presidential race.
Chairman of the American Samoa Democratic Party Patrick Ti’a Reid said attendees will hear from the three presidential candidates or their representatives: Joe Biden, Congressman Dean Phillips, and Entrepreneur Jason Michael Palmer.
The program begins around 9. The polls will close at 2:30, and the results should be known by 3:30pm.
In 2020, there were over 400 registered Democrats and the caucus was well attended.
Yesterday, Acting Governor Laapui Talauega Eleasalo Ale issued a memo authorizing one hour of administrative leave for ASG employees to participate in the local presidential caucuses.
The Republican Party of American Samoa is holding their presidential caucus on Friday at 5:30pm at the Tradewinds Naumati Room.
The Acting Governor said active participation in the civil and political discourse of our community and our nation by the people of American Samoa is essential to good governance and community development.
“As one of the largest employers, the American Samoa Government encourages its employees to be actively involved in the electoral process to the extent possible.”
To encourage active participation in these caucuses he said. “ASG employees may work with their directors, managers or supervisors to schedule one hour of administrative leave to participate and vote in their respective causes if such leave is necessary to make their participation possible.”
