Safata 1 by-election set for 6 February

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 12 January 2026: Voters of the electoral constituency of Safata 1 will go to the polls in a by-election scheduled for 6 February 2026. This was announced by the Electoral Commissioner, Toleafoa Tuiafelolo John Stanley at a press conference today.

The by election has been called following the court decision late last year that voided the seat for the constituency’s Member of Parliament due to election malpractices in the lead up to last August’s general elections.

The Office of the Electoral Commissioner received the Warrant of Election on 16 December 2025 and issued the Writ today.

Toleafoa said that nominations will be opened for one day which is this Thursday, 16 January 2026 and 19 January 2026 day is allocated for legal challenges against any nomination. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is 22 January 2026.

Pre-polling is scheduled for 4 February 2026 and voters who wish to vote on pre-polling must apply.

Polling day is set for 6 February 2026 and the official count, public notice of official result and warrant of election will all be executed on Saturday 7 February 2026 and the Return of Writ is expected on Monday 7 February.

No new voters registration
Toleafoa confirmed that no new vote5rs will be registered for the by-election and the electoral roll used for Safata 1 in the 2025 general election will also be used in the by-election.

“Under the Electoral Act, the same roll used in the general election should be used in any by-election and no new voters will be registered,” he clarified.

He confirmed that his office will finalise the number of voters for the upcoming by-election once they screen the roll to remove the name(s) of a voter(s) who have either moved abroad or passed on.

He also said this is a chance for voters who did not vote in the last election to avoid a fine by casting their vote in the upcoming by-election.

Asked for an update about the charges against people who failed to vote or registered in the last general election, he said that will only be finalised once all by-elections are completed.

He also confirmed that the 10% quota for a woman parliamentarian to make the number of six women in parliament can only be activated once all by-elections are completed.

The only other election petition still in court is the Falealili 1 case and the OEC will act according to whatever decision the court delivers.