The Office of the Electoral Commission at Mulinu’u has experienced an unprecedented influx of unregistered voters this week, as they flock to register in order to claim the $150 tālā Back to School assistance package.
Talamua Online reports the voter rolls used in last year’s general elections, is one of the official records being used to verify people claiming the $150 tālā per person assistance to support families for the new school year.
While some citizens who registered as voters this week had just turned 21, many more did not register when the Electoral Office was engaged in a national campaign in 2024 and last year.
They have been forced to register as the way to verify their identities and residency and electoral constituency in order to receive the $150 tālā grant.
About ten districts have started paying out the package out of $1.8 million tālā funding that districts have to use before the current financial year ends in June.
Photo: Talamua Media
