Media are permitted to take photos 50 metres away from the polling booths. They must also be wearing their official media passes issued by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner.

Those are the conditions set down by Electoral Commissioner, Tuiafelolo Toleafoa John Stanley.

A distance of 50 metres away is much closer than the 2021 general elections – when the media had to be 100 metres away.

Media must be 50 metres away from the voting booths.

Two Police Officers stationed at Toamua EFKS for pre-polling today, told Samoa Global News that media representatives from a local media outlet had walked right up to the polling booth and were standing inside the hall which angered voters.

“Ua oo mai i totonu o le fale ma pu’e ai latou ata, ae ua valaau mai tagata iai ma tutuli ese..”

Police stationed at Toamua said members of the public were calling out to the media reps who were standing inside the EFKS Hall.

“The people were yelling at them, telling them that they were standing too close with their cameras.”

However, at the other extreme, Police stationed at a voting booth in Vailele, told a journalist to stand outside the fenced property.

“This is where Police told me I could stand.. outside the cement fence – close to 200m away from the booths.”

The distance was more like 200 metres from the booths, not 50 metres.

“This is where the Police wanted me to stand…  outside of the cement fence.. I could not see anything from that distance…”

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Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said all Officers shall be briefed again before polling day on Friday, and called on media to collaborate and work together with Police.

“It is important for Samoa to conduct peaceful elections,” said the Police Commissioner.

“Media must adhere to the 50 metre rule imposed by the Electoral Commissioner, and wear their issued media passes,” said Auapaau.

“We also acknowledge that Police should be consistent with the reasonable measure of 50 metres, to allow media to carry out their work.”

The Commissioner said it is a matter of practicing our cultural norms of mutual respect.

“E fai lava i le va fealoai ma le ava fatafata le tatou galuega, i le agaga o le galulue faatasi, ma tausisi i tulafono ua uma ona faataatia..”

Another crucial role for Police during these elections is to ensure voters are not coerced or influenced in any way, added Auapaau.

“There should be no signage near the booths including promotional t-shirts..

“Police Officers also have to make sure that committee members are not trying to influence or coherce the voters in any way,” said the Commissioner.

Over five thousand voters had registered to pre-poll today in Upolu. No voters had registered for pre-polling from Savaii.

Public Notices – Election Opening Hours 

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