CONFIRMED: Thirty Nine Double Votes Discovered so far

Voters waiting to cast their votes at last Fridays general election.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA –15 APRIL 2021: At around 8.00pm last night, the Office of the Electoral Commissioner issued a press release disclosing the number of double votes at 39 since the official count on Monday.

The press release was issued following the media’s enquiries into the double voting issue yesterday morning. Talamua then reported that at the Sagaga 2 constituency, 11 double votes were found.

“Since the official counting on Monday 12 April 2021, we have come across 39 incidences of double voting,” said the Commissioner’s release.

However when asked earlier about the number for double votes, he said “no, as that is the data they will work on after the official count.”

The press release further explained the practice of double voting which is when a voter cast their vote twice.

“Those who are suspected of double voting are removed immediately from the counting and their votes excluded from the official results, and that all incidences will be investigated and possible charges to follow,” he said.

According to the release the double voting anomalies were discovered during the official count process at Tuana’imato overseen by the Commissioner, Electoral Officers and Scrutineers.

The official count continues this morning with the Fa’asaleleaga No.1. constituency where the former Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti struggled to make half of the votes polled by FAST party woman candidate, Matamua Vasati Sili Pulufana.