[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FEDERAL ELECTION IN AMERICAN SAMOA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, after consultation with the local 
leaders of the American Samoa Government and to address the concerns of 
active duty military members whose home of residence is American Samoa, 
I rise today to introduce legislation to provide that active duty 
members of the military be able to fully participate in Federal 
elections in American Samoa by providing that the office of the 
Delegate from American Samoa to the United States House of 
Representatives shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
  Since 1977, active-duty service members serving overseas or on the 
United States mainland have been excluded from fully participating and 
voting in both general and runoff Federal elections in American Samoa 
due to several factors, including local law that requires active duty 
military members to register in person, limited air and mail service 
between the United States mainland and American Samoa, and delays in 
the preparation of new ballots in the case of runoff elections.
  Despite notice that American Samoa law requiring uniformed and 
overseas voters to register to vote in person is contrary to the 
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff 
et seq.), American Samoa has not addressed this discrepancy between 
Federal and territorial law. Therefore, it is necessary to take 
additional action to ensure that the votes of active-duty service 
members are counted in Federal elections conducted in American Samoa.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also true that since 1980, when the first election 
for the Congressional Delegate from American Samoa was held, general 
elections have been held in the first week of November in even-numbered 
years and run-off elections have been held 2 weeks later. This practice 
of holding a run-off election two weeks after a general election is 
outdated, outmoded, and deprives active duty service members of the 
opportunity to participate in the Federal election process in American 
Samoa.
  Prior to and since September 11, 2001, it remains impossible for 
absentee ballots to be prepared and returned during a 2-week time 
period and, as a result, active duty members continue to be deprived 
the right to vote in American Samoa.
  Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, 49 states elect their 
Representatives to the United States House of Representatives by 
plurality and it is in the national interest and in the interest of 
active duty service members for American Samoa to do the same.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and I thank you for 
your consideration.

                          ____________________