Elections in Samoa

Last updated

At the national level, Samoa elects a legislature. The Fono or Legislative Assembly has 51 members elected for a five-year term from 51 electoral constituencies. Prior to 2019, the Legislative Assembly has 49 members, 47 members out of the matai (traditional heads of families) six of whom are elected from two-seat constituencies and 35 from single-seat constituencies, and 2 members by the non-Samoan nationals. The head of state is elected for a five-year term by the Fono.

Contents

The voting age in Samoa is 21.

Samoa has a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties.

Latest election

Samoa Fono avril 2021.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Human Rights Protection Party 49,23755.3825–10
Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi 32,51036.5725New
Tautua Samoa Party 2,9003.260–2
Samoa First Party 2070.230New
Sovereign Independent Samoa Party 300.030New
Independents 4,0254.531–12
Total88,909100.0051+1
Valid votes88,90999.32
Invalid/blank votes6050.68
Total votes89,514100.00
Registered voters/turnout128,84869.47
Source: Government of Samoa, Seat counts, Registered voters;
Candidate affiliations of all except Vaa o Fonoti,
Anoamaa 1 and Aleipata Itupa i Luga

By-elections

Below is a list of recent by-elections:

ElectionDateReasonWinner
1998 A'ana Alofi No 1 By-election 24 July 1998Disqualification of Suafo'a Lautusi Maiava Visekota Peteru (HRPP)
1998 Faleata East By-election 28 August 1998Appointment of Matai'a Visesio Europa to the Council of Deputies Patau'ave Etuale (SNDP)
1999 Fa’asalele’aga No 1 By-election 21 May 1999Death of Tofilau Eti Alesana Seumanu Aita Ah Wa (HRPP)
2002 Faleata East By-election 2002Appointment of Faumuina Anapapa to the Council of Deputies Lepou Petelo II
2002 Alataua West By-election 30 November 2002Death of Alii-male-manu Sasa Ta’atiti Alofa (SNDP)
2003 Alataua West By-election 1 August 2003Death of Ta’atiti Alofa Unknown (HRPP)
2004 Fa’asalele’aga No 1 By-election 19 March 2004Death of Seumanu Aita Ah Wa Tiata Sili Pulufana
2004 A'ana Alofi No 1 By-election 26 November 2004Death of Apule Pepe Metai Aiono Tile Gafa (HRPP)
2005 Anoama'a East By-election 2005Elevation of Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi to the Council of Deputies Unknown
2005 Anoama'a West By-election March 2005Resignation of Tuala Tagaloa Sale Kerslake Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo (HRPP)
2006 Fa’asalele’aga No 2 By-election 24 September 2006Election of Pa’u Sefo Pa’u declared invalid Rita Pa’u Letoa (HRPP)
2006 Aleipata Itupa-I-Lalo By-election 6 October 2006Election of Paepae Kapeli Su’a declared invalid Muagututi’ a Siaosi Meredith (HRPP)
2006 Fa’asalele’aga No 4 By-election 6 October 2006Election of Mulitalo Sealiimalietoa Siafausa Vui declared invalid Vui Tupe Ioane (HRPP)
2007 Fa’asalele’aga No 2 By-election 2 February 2007Election of Rita Pa’u Letoa declared invalid Papalii Samuelu Petaia (HRPP)
2007 Faleata East By-election 23 April 2007Death of Manuleleua Lalagofaatasi Falaniko Leleua Patau'ave Etuale (HRPP)
2007 Vaimauga West By-election 6 May 2007Death of Sililoto Tolo Tua'ifaiva Patu Ativalu (HRPP)
2010 Vaisigano No.1 By-election 2 May 2010Disqualification of Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai Papu Vailupe (TSP)
2010 Faleata West By-election 14 May 2010Disqualification of Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi Ale Vena Ale (HRPP)
2010 Safata By-election 14 May 2010Disqualification of Palusalue Fa’apo II Palusalue Fa’apo II (TSP)
2011 Aleipata Itupa I Luga by-election 29 July 2011Disqualification of Taua Kitiona Seuala (HRPP) Fagaaivalu Kenrick Samu (HRPP)
2011 Anoamaa East by-election 29 July 2011Disqualification of Alai'asa Filipo Schwartz Hunt (HRPP) Alo Fulifuli Taveuveu (HRPP)
2011 Satupaitea by-election 29 July 2011Disqualification of Tavu'i Tiafau Salevao (HRPP) Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell (HRPP)
2011 Vaisigano No.1 by-election 29 July 2011Disqualification of Va'ai Papu Vailupe (TSP) Tufuga Gafoleata Faitua (HRPP)
2014 Gaga'ifomauga No.1 by-election 15 August 2014Death of Tuilo'a Anitele'a Tuilo'a (HRPP) Faimalotoa Kika Stowers (HRPP)
2015 Sagaga-le-Usoga by-election 17 April 2015Resignation of Muagututagata Peter Ah Him (HRPP) Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli (HRPP)
2021 Samoan by-elections 26 November 20217 seats declared vacant by election petitions5 FAST, 2 HRPP MPs elected
2022 Gagaʻifomauga 2 by-election 3 June 2022Death of Vaʻele Paʻiaʻaua Iona Sekuini (FAST) Fo'isala Lilo Tu'u Ioane (FAST)
2023 Vaimauga 3 by-election 24 February 2023Death of Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang (HRPP) Lautimuia Uelese Vaʻai (FAST)
2023 Faleata No. 4 by-election 15 September 2023Resignation of Ale Vena Ale (HRPP)TBA
2023 Siʻumu by-election 15 September 2023Resignation of Tuʻuʻu Anasiʻi Leota (HRPP)TBA
2023 Vaʻa o Fonoti by-election 15 September 2023Resignation of Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai (HRPP)TBA

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of American Samoa</span> Politics of a U.S. territory

Politics of American Samoa takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic dependency, whereby the governor is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Its constitution was ratified in 1966 and came into effect in 1967. Executive power is discharged by the governor and the lieutenant governor. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the legislature. The party system is based on the United States party system. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Samoa</span>

Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western-styled political system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Algeria</span> Political elections for public offices in Algeria

Algeria elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. People's National Assembly has 407 members, elected for a five-year term in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation. Eight seats in the national assembly are reserved for Algerians abroad. The Council of the Nation has 144 members, 96 members elected by communal councils and 48 members appointed by the president. Algeria has a multi-party system, with numerous political parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. According to a US Embassy cable, the 2009 presidential elections were "carefully choreographed and heavily controlled", with the official turnout figure "exaggerated" by at least 45%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in São Tomé and Príncipe</span> Political elections for public offices in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly has 55 members, elected for a four-year term in seven multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. São Tomé and Príncipe has a multi-party system. The next legislative elections take place in 2022. Elections also happen on the regional and municipal level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Mexico</span> Political elections for public offices in Mexico

Elections in Mexico are held every 6 years to elect a president and every 3 years to elect a legislature. These elections determine who, on the national level, takes the position of the head of state – the president – as well as the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in American Samoa</span>

The American Samoan Legislature or Fono has two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which has a directly elected head of government, the Governor of American Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Madagascar</span> Political elections for public offices in Madagascar

Madagascar elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people, by absolute majority through a two-round system. The Parliament has two chambers. The National Assembly has 151 members, elected for a five-year term in single-member and two-member constituencies. In single-member constituencies, representatives are elected by simple majority, in the two-member constituencies, closed party lists are used, with the two seats distributed using a highest averages method. The Senate (Sénat) has 33 members, 22 members elected by the regions by provincial electors, and 11 members appointed by the president, all for 5 year terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Tunisia</span> Political elections for public offices in Tunisia

Following the 2011 Tunisian revolution, elections in Tunisia for the president and the unicameral Assembly of the Representatives of the People are scheduled to be held every five years. The assembly can be dissolved before finishing a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral constituencies of Samoa</span> Voting districts for election to the Samoan parliament

The Fono Aoao Faitulafono of Samoa has 51 members representing 51 electoral constituencies. Until 1991 voting for candidates in traditional territorial constituencies was by matai (chiefs) suffrage only. After a 1990 plebiscite, universal suffrage was introduced with a voting age of 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna</span>

The Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna is the legislature of Wallis and Futuna. It consists of 20 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. The Assembly sits in Mata Utu, the capital of the territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legislative Assembly of Samoa</span> Parliament of Samoa

The Legislative Assembly, also known as the Parliament of Samoa, is the national legislature of Samoa, seated at Apia, where the country's central administration is situated. Samoan Parliament is composed of two parts: the O le Ao o le Malo and the Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Samoa Fono</span> Territorial legislature of American Samoa

The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is located in Fagatogo along Pago Pago harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O le Ao o le Malo</span> Head of state of the Independent State of Samoa

The O le Ao o le Malo is the head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four Tama a 'Aiga "matai" paramount chiefs in line with customary protocol. This is not a constitutional requirement, so Samoa can be considered a parliamentary republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. The government Press Secretariat describes Head of State as a "ceremonial president". The holder is given the formal style of Highness, as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in Samoa on 31 March 2006 to determine the composition of the 14th Parliament. The main contesting parties were that of incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP); and the Samoan Democratic United Party (SDUP). In addition, three other parties, the Christian Party (SCP), the Samoa Party (SP), and the Samoa Progressive Party (SPP), competed in the election. The result was a landslide victory for the HRPP, which won 33 of the 49 seats. The newly founded SDUP secured ten seats, and the remaining six were won by independents. After the election, three independents joined the HRPP, increasing the party's seat count to 36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in Samoa on 2 March 2001 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament. Prime minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) into the election. Opposition leader and former prime minister and future head of state, Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi led the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP) into the election. The HRPP won 23 seats, but initially fell short of a majority. The SNDP won 13 seats, the Samoan United People's Party secured one seat and the remaining 12 were won by independents. Following the election, all 12 independents joined the HRPP, giving the party a majority in parliament and allowing Tuila'epa to remain prime minister.

Electoral districts go by different names depending on the country and the office being elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Western Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 28 April 1948, the first to the new Legislative Assembly. The United Citizens Party won four of the five directly-elected seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in Samoa on 4 March 2016 to determine the composition of the 16th Parliament. Two parties contested the election, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, which had been in government for most of the time since 1982 and the Tautua Samoa Party (TSP), led by Opposition Leader Palusalue Faʻapo II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fono of Faipule</span>

The Fono of Faipule was a legislature in Western Samoa during the colonial era. It consisted of representatives (faipule) from each district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 Western Samoan general election</span>

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 15 November 1957.