VOTER REGISTRATION

Registration Deadline: Registration forms must be received by an election officer no later than 30 days before the next election.


VOTER REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS

Age: Every person who has reached the age of 18 years, or who will have reached the age of 18 years prior to the date of the next election, and is otherwise qualified to register, may register in the district in which he/she resides.

Citizenship: The person must be a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. National

Residency: No person may register or vote in any district other than that in which he/she resides, except where it is found that he/she has been inadvertently registered in the wrong district. In determining residency in the Territory, spouses may treat themselves separately from one another. The following rules shall determine residency for territory and district purposes.

A. The residency of a person is that place in which his/her habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever he/she is absent, he/she has the intention to return.
B. A person does not gain residency in any district not which he/she comes without the present intention of establishing his/her permanent dwelling place within that district.
C. If a person resides with his/her family in one place, and does business in another, the former is his/her place of residence; but any person having a family, who establishes his/her dwelling place other than with his/her family, with the intention of remaining there, shall be considered a resident where he/she has established his/her dwelling place.
D. The mere intention to acquire a new residence without physical presence at that place does not establish residency; neither does mere physical presence without the concurrent present intention to establish that place as his/her residence.
E. A person does not gain or lose residency solely by reason of his/her presence or absence while employed in the service of the United States or of this territory, or while a student of an institution of learning, or while kept in an institution or asylum, or while confined in prison.
F. The status of a person’s primary matai obligations are a factor in determining district residency.  However, matai obligations alone may not sustain a finding of district residency absent other evidence which, in connection with evidence of matai obligations, is sufficient to sustain this intent.
G. A person loses his/her residency in this Territory if he/she votes in an election held elsewhere by absentee ballot or in person.
H. The term of residence is computed by including the day on which the person’s residence commences and by excluding the day of election.
I. Final determination of a question regarding residency shall be made by the Chief Election Officer, subject to appeal to the Board of Registration.

ID Requirements: Voter registration card. Voters who have lost or damaged their digitized identification card, may still use other identification at the polls, like a U.S. Passport. If a voter does not hold a U.S. Passport, a government issued ID and birth certificate may also be used.


OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

In person: All applicants desiring to register shall furnish the Chief Election Officer with identification duly issued by a governmental agency, containing a photographic likeness of the applicant, and shall make and subscribe to an application in the form of an affidavit.  The affidavit must contain the following information:

1. Name;
2. Social Security Number;
3. Date of Birth;
4. Age;
5. Residence;
6. Place of Current Employment;
7. That the residence stated in the affidavit is not simply because of the person’s presence in the territory/district, but that the residence was acquired with the intent to make American Samoa/district, the person’s legal residence with all the accompanying obligations therein; and
8. That the person is a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. National.

By mail/ in writing:
Chief Election Officer
American Samoa Government
P.O. Box 3970
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

By Fax: (684) 699-3574

Other Voter Registration Application Information: A qualified elector having once been registered shall not be required to register again for any succeeding election, except otherwise provided by law.


VERIFYING YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

Online: Voter Status

Phone: 684.699.3570


ABSENTEE BALLOT QUALIFICATIONS

Who can vote absentee:

1. Absent from the Territory on Election Day because he/she is:
  a. Employed in the service of the U.S. Government;
  b. Employed in the service of the American Samoa Government;
  c. A student at an institution of learning;
  d. An absent uniformed services voter; or
  e. An overseas voter voting in the election for Delegate for U.S. House of Representatives
2. Temporarily absent from the Territory on election day because of:
  a. Travel for medical treatment;
  b. Travel for military-related assignments;
  c. Travel for employment-related training, conference or assignments; or
  d. Vacation
3. Present in the Territory but absent from the district on Election Day because of;
  a. Travel for military-related assignments;
  b. Travel for employment-related training, conference or assignments
  c. Vacation
4. Present in the Territory but absent from the district on election day because of;
  a. Confinement in any hospital
  b. Confinement in any public institution
  c. Confinement at home because of illness or physical disability which will prevent him/her from attending the polls
  d. Any religious belief, ruling, doctrine, or standard which will prevent him/her from attending the polls.
  e. Employment as an election official on election day

Other absentee voter qualifications: The Federal Post Card Application registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for all regularly scheduled Federal elections for the calendar year in which it is submitted.


OBTAINING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
Online: Absentee Ballot Application

By mail: Send Application to: 
Chief Election Officer
American Samoa Government
P.O. Box 3970
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

Military and overseas voting: Military and overseas voters obtaining an absentee ballot must meet the following requirements:

1. Either a United States Citizen or a National;
2. At least 18 years old;
3. Lived in American Samoa for a total of at least 2 years; AND
4. Be a bona fide resident of the election district for at least 1 year preceding the upcoming election.

Emergency Voting: Absentee ballots for those within the territory but outside of their district on voting day can request and turn in an absentee ballot from 30 days prior until the day before the election at 4:30.

Other absentee ballot information:  American Samoa allows you to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) for voting in general elections for Federal office. If you are registered and have requested your absentee ballot, feel free to use the FWAB to vote anytime before an election. Absentee ballots can also be requested through FAX:(684) 699-3574 and through email by emailing absentee@eo.as.gov.


SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Location and time: Ballots must be received by the chief election officer by 1:30pm on the day of the election if delivered by any method besides mail.

1. An elector that is absent from the territory on election day may request an absentee ballot in person or in writing from the Chief Election Officer not earlier than on January 1st of the year of the election for which the absentee ballot is requested.

2. An elector that is temporarily absent from the territory on election day may request an absentee ballot in person or in writing from the Chief Election Officer not earlier than the day that ballots are printed and available and not later than 4:30pm on the day prior to the election.

3. An elector that is temporarily absent from the district because of travel may request and absentee ballot in person or in writing from the Chief Election Officer not earlier than on the 30th day before and not later than 4:30pm on the day prior to the election.


QUALIFICATIONS

Verifying Registration: Voter Status Form

Deciding how to vote: http://www.votesmart.org/

Problems with voting: Contact the Election office: (684) 699-3570 or (684) 699-3571

Verifying absentee ballot status: Absentee Ballot Status