As the nation gears up for the 2026 General Election, the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC) has urged voters and members of the public to only believe information from the OEC as opposed to what it terms "misinformation" being circulated on social media.

"The Electoral Commissioner's Office is aware of false social media posts, including claims questioning the integrity of the services rendered by the Office of the Electoral Commission," a statement from the OEC said. "Such misinformation undermines public confidence in Samoa's electoral process."

The statement does not provide details about the claims on social media.

But the OEC is concerned that spreading baseless accusations damages the trust by members of the public in the Office of the Electoral Commission and misinformation risks polarizing voters ahead of the General Election next year. 

"As we approach the 2026 General Election, the Office of the Electoral Commission calls on all Samoan citizens to: Verify information using only official sources from the Electoral Commissioner. 

"Avoid sharing unverified claims. Report false posts to authorities."

The Electoral Office remains open to inquiries and committed to providing timely, accurate information. Let us work together to safeguard the integrity of Samoa's democracy.

Early this year, a stern warning was issued to local media outlets, condemning the manipulation and distortion of official electoral information. 

Their statement then emphasised that all official electoral information must come directly from the Electoral Commissioner, Tuiafelolo John Stanley and that the media must report this information accurately and responsibly.

As Samoa moves closer to its upcoming elections, the O.E.C. remains committed to providing accurate, timely information to the public and reinforcing the importance of ethical reporting in the lead-up to the vote.