The Office of the Electoral Commission is all set for the Gagaifomauga No. 3 by-election next Friday and will set up four polling booths and two mobile booths.

Voters in Fagae’e, Letui and Aopo will be able to cast votes at each villages’ Congregational Christian Church of Samoa residence. While Sasina constituents will be able to cast votes at the village’s Methodist Church.

Mobile booths will also be set up at the Tuasivi Hospital and the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital, Moto’otua on the Friday, August 28 polling date.

Two candidates are vying for the vacant seat in the Legislative Assembly as confirmed after the last day for withdrawal of nomination was sealed on 14 August 2020. The candidates are: Fa'aulusau Simi Laulua and the former Member of Parliament, La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt.

As of last week, a total of 1445 voters have already registered for the by-election, as confirmed by the Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio. There are 762 male and 683 female eligible voters.

Faimalo also confirmed that the by-election will cost up to an estimated $100,000.

Earlier this month, speaking on behalf of the faletolu, which consists of Fagae'e, Sasina and Letui, paramount chief Seve Avaula said all three villages have thrown their support behind Laauli.

The fourth village in the constituency, Aopo, nominated independent candidate, Fa'aulusau Simi Laulua.

La'auli's seat was declared vacant last month following his verbal resignation in the last Parliament sitting.

The constituency had asked La'auli not to tender a written resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament and instead establish a new political party. La'auli followed their wishes and his new political party was registered on 30 July under the name, Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi [F.A.S.T.].