Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa, Art.2(ii)
Verified: 2017/08/18
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
b . Respecting natural barriers
Comments:
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa, Art.2(ii)
Verified: 2017/08/18
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
a . Legislature (1st chamber) b . Legislature (2nd chamber)
Comments: Both Chambers
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa, Art.2(ii)
Verified: 2017/08/18
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
a . Head of State is the Head of Government e . Elected by electoral college or committee
Comments: The President of the United States of America is the Head of State for the unincorporated US territory. The President is elected by an electoral college.
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa Preamble.
Constitution of the United States of America: Art. 2:1:2
Verified: 2017/08/18
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
f . Other
Comments: The President of the United States of America is the Head of Government for the unincorporated US territory, and is elected by an Electoral College.
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa Preamble.
Constitution of the United States of America: Art. 2:1:2
Verified: 2017/08/18
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa Preamble
Verified: 2017/08/18
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
b . Two chambers
Comments: The national legislature consists of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa: Art. 2:1
Verified: 2017/08/18
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
a . Plurality (FPTP)
Comments: The number of persons to be elected receiving the highest number of votes in any representative district shall be declared to be elected or in the case of territory-wide election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and the Delegate-at-Large, the person or team receiving the highest number of votes in the territory shall be declared to be elected.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0805.
http://www.asbar.org/Newcode/Title%2006.htm#a805
Verified: 2017/08/18
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation d . Regulations or administrative rules
Comments:
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa, American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections Chapter 7 6.0701,
Verified: 2017/08/18
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0101
Verified: 2017/08/18
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections Section 2 Article 6.0210; International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified: 2017/08/18
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
a . Judiciary d . Other
Comments: D. Other - Board of Registration
The Board of Registration is the first level of disputes, however the High Court becomes the first level of disputes under the following conditions
* An elector's qualifications are challenged after they vote
* Challenges that relate to causes that would cause a difference in the election result.
Source: High Court, American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0901, 6.0902, 6.0903.
Board of Registration, American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0223 (a) (d).
Verified: 2017/08/18
Electoral Management
EM002
Responsibility of national EMB
Question: Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):
a . National level
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0101
http://www.asbar.org/Newcode/Title%2006.htm#a101
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
g . Other
Comments: Other, Governor
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0103.1 (e).
http://www.asbar.org/Newcode/Title%2006.htm
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
c . The legislature
Comments: The Governor shall direct the preparation and administration of the territorial budget. The Governor places all recommendations towards budgetary issues to the Legislature for consideration and approval.
Source: Constitution: art. 2:1.
American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 10, Ch.5. (10.0502)
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
b . For a specified number of years
Comments: For an initial term of 4 years, and every 3 years thereafter.
There are a number of permanent civil servants who assist the Chief Electoral Officer.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0103.1 (b)
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
c . Mixed
Comments: There is established in the executive branch of the American Samoa Government a permanent, independent election office. The election office is headed by the Chief Election Officer, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6, Ch.1 (6.0103.1)
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
f . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
b . Expertise
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
EM015
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected by:
Answer(s):
c . Executive e . Legislature
Comments: The election office is headed by the Chief Election Officer, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6, Ch.1 (6.0103.1)
Verified: 2017/08/18
Voter Education
VE001
Information campaigns performed by
Question: Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):
a . National Electoral Management Body
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0104
Verified: 2017/08/18
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
c . Other
Comments: Periodically available online
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
VE003
National civic education
Question: Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):
a . No
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
c . 18
Comments:
Source: Constitution of American Samoa, Art.2:7
American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6, Ch2 (6.0211)
Verified: 2017/08/18
VR002
Other voting requirements
Question: Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Citizenship b . Period of Residence
Comments: Electors must be a United States National, be 18 years of age or older on the day of the election and have lived in Samoa for a period of two years to be eligible to vote.
Source: Constitution of American Samoa: art. 2:7
Verified: 2017/08/18
VR004
Authority responsible for voter registration
Question: Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:
a . Central Government Department (specify)
Comments: Election Office
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6, Section 1 (6.0201)
Verified: 2017/08/18
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
g . No information available
Comments: There are no official parties in American Samoa, although there is a trend for various candidates to have strong links with either the US Democratic or Republican parties.
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship d . Residence j . Other
Comments: The candidate must be 30 years of age or more, have lived in America Samoa for 5 years or more, be the registered Matai of a Samoan Family who fulfills their obligations as required by Samoan custom in the country that they have been elected.
Source: Revised Constitution of American Samoa, Art.2, Section 3 A Senator shall; (a), (b), (c) and (d).
Verified: 2017/08/18
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: Only in reference to Legislative elections
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6 (6.0301)
Verified: 2017/08/18
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
a . No
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
f . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: Individuals are entitled to private funding.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6, (6.1703)
Verified: 2017/08/18
Vote Counting
VC004
Votes are sorted/counted at
Question: Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:
a . The polling stations
Comments: The legislation allows for the initial count to be undertaken in a central polling place, but traditionally this first count occurs at the local polling stations.
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6 (6.0802)
Verified: 2017/08/18
VC011
When are ballots recounted?
Question: Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):
g . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2012/05/23
Media and Elections
ME037
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
Question: What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):
h . No information available
Comments: There are no political parties on American Samoa
Source: Information collected at PIANZEA workshop in December 2006.
Verified: 2017/08/18
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
c . No
Comments: No debates but speeches are made on television.
Source: Information collected at PIANZEA workshop in December 2006.
Verified: 2012/05/23
ME062
Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.
Question: What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:
g . No information available
Comments:
Source: Information collected at PIANZEA workshop in December 2006.
Verified: 2017/08/18
ME080
Question: Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2017/08/18
Direct Democracy
DD005
Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
Verified: 2017/08/18
DD007
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
c . No information available
Comments:
Source: Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
Verified: 2017/08/18
Voting Operations
VO003
Electors vote at
Question: Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):
a . At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6 (6.0701).
Verified: 2017/08/18
VO004
Voting outside the country is permitted for
Question: Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):
c . Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation) d . Members of the armed forces e . Students f . Diplomatic staff
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6 (6.1101)
Verified: 2017/08/18
VO005
Locations for voting outside of the country
Question: If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):
c . Special polling stations e . By mail
Comments:
Source: American Samoa Code Annotated, Title 6 (6.1103)
Verified: 2017/08/18
VO011
Voting method
Question: How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):
a . Manually marking of ballots
Comments: While not written into the legislation, it is clear from court proceedings that an elector makes their mark on the ballot paper, and only the first number, or preference counts. Source Mulitauaopele v. CEO, 27 A.S.R.2d 56.
Source: Mulitauaopele v. CEO, 27 A.S.R.2d 56.
Verified: 2017/08/18
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