Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo John Stanley has assured the public that all ballot boxes at the Office of the Electoral Commission’s (OEC) operations centre in Tuanaimato are safe, secure, and under continuous surveillance.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Tuiafelolo said the facility is monitored 24/7 by closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and is also under constant police presence to ensure the integrity and transparency of the vote-counting process.

“I assure you the ballot boxes are safe and are monitored 24/7 by CCTV cameras,” he said. “That is why the public is allowed, because there are cameras. I think the candidates who came with these concerns are just paranoid and worried.”

His comments followed the appearance of three FAST party candidates, Magele Sekati Fiaui, Masinalupe Makesi Masinalupe, and Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo at the operations centre on Monday during the counting of special and pre-polling votes. Electoral law prohibits candidates from being at the counting venue during this stage.

In a separate incident on Sunday, Tuiafelolo also confirmed that the leading candidate for Falealili No.1, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo, had entered the OEC premises and asked officials to begin counting special votes.

Despite the incidents, the Commissioner maintains that robust security measures are in place. In addition to CCTV monitoring, police officers are stationed at the Tuanaimato operations centre around the clock to ensure the safety of the premises and the legitimacy of the electoral process.