The Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) government has taken another step towards changing election law to allow Samoan voters off island to vote in national elections.
Cabinet has approved the terms of reference for the proposed Out-of-Country Voting Task Force, which will oversee a pilot project and recommend possible amendments to the Electoral Act 2019.
The decision follows consultations held in July with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Government, the Office of the Electoral Commission (OEC), the opposition Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and independent Members of Parliament.
During the consultations, HRPP members raised concerns about online voting, including whether Samoa’s electoral laws could be enforced in foreign jurisdictions.
A government press release said the task force will identify appropriate methods to enable eligible voters overseas to cast their ballots.
It will also oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the Out-of-Country Voting Pilot Project and recommend amendments to the Electoral Act 2019 to provide for overseas voting in future elections.
The release said, “The initiative supports greater participation by eligible Samoan citizens in the democratic process, including those residing or travelling overseas during elections.”
