By Staff Writer
The Faleata Sports Complex has come in handy as the central location of activities for the 2021 General Election just days away on the second week of April.
The Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC) is converting the Multi-Purpose Gymnasium into its operations control centre.
Everything to do with the general election as it is underway including the crucial duties of the final counting of the ballots are co-ordinated from the more spacious location.
“We started setting up here at the weekend and will be in full swing from the 27th of March up to the general election and onwards to the last week of April when we move out,” Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio told Newsline Samoa.
The ‘homeless’ OEC has been operating at two locations in Apia at the SNPF Plaza and the Development Bank Building to meet the demands of the election build up.
Commissioner Faimalomatumua plans to close all its town offices on Friday 26th March when they shift to Faleata for the duration of the general election.
“Hopefully our new office under construction at Mulinu’u will be ready for us to move in when all this is done,” he added.
Polling day is set for Friday 9th of April but the week starts with pre-polling on Monday 5th of April up to Thursday 8th of April.
The Faleata Sports Complex facilities will also come in useful with the use of Gymnasiums 1 and 2 lined up for pre-polling voters to cast their ballots.
“Pre-polling starts from 8.00am-4.00pm and after a preliminary count the ballot boxes will be sealed off by our OEC seal separate from the police seal that will only be broken when the final count is taken.”
The ballot boxes will be under police watch.