General Election

Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison in battle to be Australian prime minister

Scott Morrison heads to the election as the first Prime Minister since John Howard, more than 14 years ago, to serve a full term as the nation's leader.

The man trying to stop him from securing the Coalition a fourth term is Labor's Anthony Albanese, a 26-year veteran of the federal parliament.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Once dubbed an accidental prime minister after coming to power in a leadership spill that toppled Malcolm Turnbull, Morrison has served a full term with largely no speculation about his leadership.

Samoa final election outcome could be known tonight

There's been a week-long wait following a cliff-hanger interim result that has the two main parties neck-and-neck.

Both newcomer, the FAST Party, and the HRPP, which has held the reins of power for nearly 40 years, have 25 seats each, with one going to an independent.

Faimalomatumua said only the recount of the constituencies in Savaii has to be done today before results are handed to the Head of State.

He said, so far, the recount has meant changes to the numbers of votes won or lost but not the results.

Samoans urged to stand together regardless of election outcome

Electoral officials are still carrying out the final count with official results expected by the end of this week or early next week.

Safua Akeli Amaama, the former director for Samoa Studies at the Samoa National University, now heads New Zealand history and Pacific cultures at Te Papa Museum in Wellington.

Safua told RNZ Dateline Pacific the unfolding election results are not only unprecedented for Samoan politics but also for Samoan women.

Over 8000 register for pre-polling in Samoa election

Pre-polling started yesterday (Monday) and over 700 people cast their votes.

Today is the second day of pre-polling.

Savali Newspaper reports 4,320 voters registered for pre-polling are aged 65-years and over.

549 voters are persons with disabilities, 919 are special and vital service providers and 2,682 are caregivers to the elderly and those with disabilities.

104 are those, who needed to vote before leaving Samoa between 5-9 April 2021.

There are 432 ballot stations/locations, which includes 328 normal voting booths and 96 pre-polling booths.

Samoa's HRPP takes early lead

About 8,000 voters can cast their ballots over four days before Friday's election.

The publication of first results has raised questions among commentators as it might influence the remaining voters.

The Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua said they had decided not to 'sleep on the results' and would continue to count and announce the results each day.

189 candidates, including 21 women, are contesting the 50 seats for a five-year term in the legislative assembly.

Early voting starts in Samoa election

Polling booths opened this morning for a four-day pre-polling period.

189 candidates, including 21 women, are contesting the 50 seats for a five-year term in the legislative assembly.

RNZ Pacific reports the ruling Human Rights Protect party has 105 candidates, FAST or Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa party has 52, Tautua Samoa party 14, Samoa First five, the Sovereign Independent Samoa party one, and 12 candidates are independents.

Samoa caretaker leader supremely confident on poll chances

He told a radio audience this week that his party will garner no less than 45 of the 49 parliamentary seats on offer.

He said that means the opposition parties will not be able to carry out any proposed amendments to the constitution.

The opposition parties are campaigning on perceived nationwide opposition to recent constitutional changes.

The veteran MP said changing the constitution is not easy.

A two thirds majority or 34 votes is required to instigate any Constitutional changes.

Citizens’ right to free and fair elections in Samoa

Some of these developments include village council activities that may be discriminatory or coercive of the individual in their effect; and campaign committees influencing voters’ preference by unscrupulous means including bribery. These activities impact upon the right of voters to choose who they want to represent them in public office. It is incumbent upon all in authority to protect and safeguard the right of the people of Samoa to have free and fair elections. 

Samoa’s Electoral Commission replaces pre-polling form to address alleged pre-polling tampering

“Voters from two Electoral Constituencies have personally registered their grave concerns that campaign officials are paying out cash for their votes as Pre-Poll voters,” Prime Minister and HRPP Leader Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi announced on his weekly TV Live Stream programme.

Savali News reports, according to Tuilaepa, voters have claimed the offenders to be campaigners for the FAST Political Party.

Subsequently in recent days, OEC also has received similar grievances from more than 20 voters.

2019 Australia election: Polls open for 'generational' vote

PM Scott Morrison says he has united his conservative government in the nine months since he replaced Malcolm Turnbull.

Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten has pressed his case with stark policy alternatives.

Australia has mandatory voting and a record 16.4 million enrolled voters.

The nation holds elections every three years, but no prime minister has succeeded in serving a full term since 2007.