Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC) removed 10,758 deceased voters from the 2021 registration roll of 127,983, while Samoa’s voter registration drive has reached 59 per cent of the eligible voting population as of 8 pm Monday, 9 June.

This is up from 52 per cent just under two weeks ago, according to the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC).

The increase represents 8,821 additional voters completing their registration between 27 May and 9 June. As of the latest update, 69,509 voters have re-registered out of an eligible total of 117,225.

Regarding the functionality of the OEC’s online registration system, there has been public confusion on whether the online system truly works. OEC Commissioner Tufiafelolo John Stanley clarified that the online portal is operational, and eligible voters can begin the process at https://eis.oec.gov.ws. However, completing the process requires a visit to the OEC’s Mulinuu Office for biometric capture.

“Online Portal is currently working,” he said. “Voters registered online may complete the process by visiting the OEC Mulinuu Office to capture biometrics.”

A total of 1,983 voters who registered online have completed their registration, while another 1,608 have started the process online but have not yet completed it.

Tufiafelolo also addressed concerns over logistical readiness for the snap election, particularly the procurement of essential equipment.

A tender process is currently in progress to hire 431 laptops, tablets, and routers, as well as to procure 861 plastic ballot boxes from overseas.

“This is part of our efforts to ensure our electoral teams are equipped and polling stations are ready,” he added.

With just weeks to go before election preparations ramp up, the OEC is still recruiting for polling officials. Tufiafelolo confirmed that a minimum of 1,300 poll workers will be needed nationwide.

“Applications to become a polling official are still open,” he said. “Training of Polling Officials will be carried out in the fourth week of July, and 431 polling booths have been identified and confirmed in both Upolu and Savaii.”

Three new countries have appeared on the online registration list: Papua New Guinea (1), Tonga (2), and Tunisia in North Africa (1). However, none of these registrations have been completed.