Resolution for non U.S. nationals to vote in local elections introduced in House

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A House Joint Resolution (HJR) to qualify non-U.S. Nationals as electors who may cast a ballot in local elections was introduced in the House Chamber last Friday.

The HJR was introduced by three faipule including Vice Speaker of the House, Fetui Fetu Jr; Vailoata E. Amituana’i and Lavea Fatulegae’e Palepoi Mauga and it’s now transferred to the House Election Committee for discussion and a hearing.

According to the preamble, before the division of the Samoan islands by the dominant world powers at the time, limitations on entry and living on any island were loosely enforced and left to the authority of traditional leaders.

The establishment of the two formal governments created laws that recognized residency and attributed certain rights to where one was born, including the right to vote which was regarded as one of the most important.

As each government grew and the world entered the Golden Age of Travel, an influx of immigrants peaked in American Samoa (AS). People off all nationalities came to the territory to visit and work. Many who came decided to stay and make Tutuila and Manu’a their homes.

Generations of foreign-national migrants have lived among American Samoa U.S. Nationals for decades and most have made families in the territory and a countless number who came when they were children were educated with U.S. Nationals. They worked together, worshipped together, and have truly shaped the culture in the territory.

Those with professional training have educated our children, treated our sick, built our homes, and have even made our food. They pay taxes and have contributed to the growth of almost every facet of AS.

“Given the great contributions by foreign-born residents, it is extremely inequitable that they are not able to select its representatives to public office and the territory should provide to non-U.S. Nationals residents to cast a vote in local election. It’s the most prudent and fair right to provide to those who have given much to the territory,” the HJR says.

The Article II, Section 7, of the Revised Constitutional of American Samoa is revised to read, “A non-U.S. national may become a qualified elector after attaining the age of 25 or upwards, has legally lived for no less than 25 consecutive years in American Samoa, and is a bona-fide resident of the election district whre he offers to vote for at least two years from the next preceding election and meets such registration requirements as may be prescribed by law.”