191 hopefuls are hoping to get their names on the official candidates list and onto the ballot paper come polling day. Democracy is at play here, and the judiciary has come to the aid to set out a clear timetable that may help avoid the mess faced after elections.

The move on the part of the Office of the Electoral Commission to have challenges settled before the start of the election is very well thought out. It gives a clean roll for both voters and candidates before people cast their votes. It makes no sense to allow ineligible voters and candidates to be part of the election process in the first place. Then it adds on to the work of the OEC, who would have already done the counting, to go back on their work. In the case of a voter, the vote can be declared invalid, but what about a candidate? Imagine if a candidate wins and then is declared unable to contest after a challenge post-election.

The court has decided that the path the OEC proposed was the best because it sets a clear path to counting and declaring victors. The only challenge that would remain is when allegations of gifting and bribery would surface. This path also clears a large workload for the judiciary, which often has had to halt other matters before the courts to decide on the electoral issues. The fewer cases before the court, the faster we can return to democracy.

The nation is now running on fumes. There is only 25 per cent of last year’s budget given to government departments. This means if there is a delay in returning to an elected government, people will suffer, civil servants will not get paid, and government services will be affected. Foreign aid for various projects will also remain frozen until an elected government is in place.

The deadline for filing objections to the electoral roll—either by voters or the Electoral Commissioner—is set for 18 July. Objections will then be personally served on voters from 21 to 25 July. If personal service is unsuccessful, the court has approved substituted service through public notices published by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC) online, on social media, and in local media outlets, including the Savali newspaper.

All objections are to be called in the District Court on 30 July for scheduling and potential hearings. The final printed electoral roll will be published by midday on 8 August, with 15 August marked as the final date for court decisions on these objections, unless any unresolved cases are postponed until after the election.

In addition to voter roll objections, the court has also set a parallel schedule for nomination challenges. The deadline for filing any challenges to candidate nominations is 18 July, with hearings set to begin on 29 July. All nomination challenges must be decided by 15 August, though, similarly, any pending cases may be carried over past the election date if necessary.

With the overwhelming number of people registered as candidates, we ask them again, what are your intentions? Are you there to help build a better constituency and subsequently a better country, or are you boarding the money train for personal gains? If it is the latter, you are not doing anyone a favour apart from yourself. These are the types of intentions that have seen poverty grow, children missing out on education, the drop in agricultural production, exports dropping, increasing crime, deteriorating infrastructure, including the power grid, a hospital that is falling apart, the rising cost of living, transparency and accountability are still dreams, there is abuse of power, corruption and in all of this the voters and their families are the ones who continue to suffer. If this is you, do the honourable thing and step down while you have the chance.

Please enter politics because you genuinely want to help the people who will vote for you. Become a member of parliament because you want every child in your constituency to have access to education, health and a better life. Enter politics because you want to help pass laws that will be good for the nation. If your motive to enter politics is anything apart from making your village, district and country a better place, then please stay away.

Have a blessed Sunday, Samoa.