All Samoans eligible to vote will be able to register from their homes for the 2021 General Election, thanks to a door-to-door registration programme, which started this week.

The programme is driven by the Office of the Electoral Commission (O.E.C.) in the hope to ensure everyone exercises their right to vote.

The first day of the programme was Wednesday.

Despite the heavy rainfall, staff members of the O.E.C. called in at households offering registrations.

They started at the District of Vaimauga 1, going through Lauli'i, Letogo, Vailele, Vailele-uta and Fagalii.

This will enable them to confirm details of every person who should be registered for the election.

This initiative hopes to collect accurate information to update  Constituencies Electoral Rolls and facilitates the requirements of the Electoral Act 2019.

The door to door field work will be carried out to all Electoral Constituencies through the coming months towards to closing of the Electoral Roll on the 9th of October 2020. 

According to a Laulii resident, Leemo Vaoesea, she said that the initiative is very significant for those that cannot afford to travel to town.

“I think that the work carried out by the O.E.C is important for those that have financial difficulties to travelling to town,” she said.

The 41-year-old from Laulii added that through this programme, some of the residents can access the service easily.

“We were informed earlier that a visit will be carried out by the O.E.C. staff members that have led to some of our village committee members to be assigned to assist their work.

“According to a census we conducted last year during the measles there are more than 2,000 people in Laulii alone.

“But I know that if all families will not be reached today, it could also continue the next day.”

Ms. Vaoesea added that the O.E.C. staffs were happily welcomed by many families because of the significance of their work.

“In my own view, everyone eligible to register has a right to vote it is because voting acts as the voice of the people.

“We the people have the right to choose who our leaders will be and who will be in Government.”