Martha Taumata Faavae
Voters who failed to cast ballots in the upcoming general election are liable to be fined $100 under the 2019 Electoral Act.
But it will come as no surprise for those prepared to pay the fine rather than vote especially for voters living in Upolu but registered to vote in Savaii.
A few have openly admitted that they are prepared to pay the fine as a lesser amount compared to forking out for the costs of travel and giving to the family in terms of goods or cash or both.
An Apia based voter for Gaga’emauga No 1 in Savai’i regrets not being able to travel over to cast her ballot but it is only because it is a struggle to buy something for her relatives living in Savaii.
The embarrassment of turning up at the family empty handed makes opting to pay the non voting fine the one to take.
“ It has been a long time since I’ve seen my relatives and visited my village,” the voter who did not want to be named told Newsline.
The voter feels obligated to take some food and presents for her family but that is not possible because the economic effects of COVID-19.
Earnings from her working children as the source of finance are severely reduced.
Her children who are eligible to vote will still made the trip to cast their ballot in Savaii.
Another voter woman voter in a similar situation told Newsline that only her children will be going but it will be an ‘in and out’ trip just to cast their votes and stright back home again.
. “Their trip will be short for financial reasons and they will be going to Savaii on the day of the election and returning to Upolu on the same day,” the voter disclosed.
“ Our plan was for all of us to all go to spend Easter and stay on to cast our votes but that is not possible,” she added.
She said she wanted to help her family to host herself and other relatives who would be travelling to Savaii to cast their votes but because she could not help she decided not to go.
Many of the voters who are faced with the predicament support the election amendment .
“ I totally support the amendment for voters to cast their ballot at their own constituencies. It is a good change,” another voter reacted when asked by Newsline.
The 2019 Electoral Act spells out clearly that voting is compulsory and also states that it is the duty of every registered as a voter to vote at each election.
Under Section 63 it is stated that the Electoral Commissioner “ must within 12 months after every election publish a list of names and addresses of people who: (a) did not register to vote; and (b) registered but did not vote.”
The Act also requires the Electoral Commissioner must within 12 months after every election sends a penalty notice; or arrange for a penalty notice to be delivered by other means to a person whose name appears on the list of those who registered but did not vote and did not register to vote.
The penalty notice states the Act informs the voter that she or he has failed to vote at the election and it is an offence to fail to vote at an election without a valid or sufficient reason for not voting. It also explains that “ if the voter chooses to have the matter addressed outside of court, the voter may within the prescribed time provide the Commissioner particulars of the voter not voting; or provide the Commissioner reason under subsection (4)(d); or pay the penalty notice fine of $100 to the Commissioner.