Polling for the Safata by-election has been scheduled for Friday, 27 February 2026, according to a notice issued by the Office of the Electoral Commission.

Pre-polling day will be held on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

Nominations for candidates will open from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday, 6 February 2026. The last day for the withdrawal of nominations is Thursday,  12 February 2026, at noon.

The return of the writ for the by-election is scheduled for Monday, 2 March 2026.

The notice was signed by Electoral Commissioner Tuifetolo John Stanley and dated at Mulinu’u on Friday, 30 January 2026.

The Safata by-election was initially scheduled for 6 February, but it was postponed after a cabinet directive. The reasons for the postponement have not been given.

The Safata seat was declared vacant after the Electoral Court found election winner Seve Te’i Fuimaono and petitioner Leaana Ronnie Posini guilty of corrupt practices.

Luailepou Tikilapilesa Misi will contest the Safata No. 1 by-election as the official candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party. He has been confirmed by the party as its candidate.

Meanwhile, the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party has not yet finalised its candidate. The party recently received the names of four potential candidates hoping to contest the by-election under the FAST banner. However, the party has stated it will select only one candidate to contest the Safata No. 1 by-election.