* The election is indirect. Local chiefs selected members of the Senate.

** See more here: http://www.americansamoaelectionoffice.org/results/2014%20General%20Electionfficial%20Results.pdf

At stake in this election:     

• The 18 seats in American Samoa’s Senate*

*The election is indirect. Local chiefs select members of the Senate.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Barack OBAMA (since 20 January 2009)
• Head of Government: Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013)
• Assembly: American Samoa has a bicameral Legislature (Fono) consisting of the Senate with 18 seats and the House of Representatives with 21 seats.

* Residents also elect one non-voting delegate to serve a 2-year term in the US House of Representatives.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.* **
• The Governor is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate 18 members are selected by regional governing councils to serve 2-year terms.*** In the House of Representatives, 20 members are elected by popular vote to serve 2-year terms and 1 member is elected by public meeting on Swains Island to serve a 2-year term.****

* Residents of unincorporated territories do not vote in elections for US president or vice president, however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections.

*** Residents also elect one non-voting delegate to serve a 2-year term in the US House of Representatives.

*** Senators are selected by local chiefs through a method called faa-Samoa, showing that they are in good standing in the community.

**** The member elected by public meeting on Swains Island is a nonvoting member of the (American Samoa) House of Representatives.

Election Note:

• On Tuesday 4 November 2014, there will be an election to the American Samoa Senate.[i]

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Independents*

* Candidates will be running as Independents and are selected by local chiefs.

Last election:

• The last election to the Senate in American Samoa was on 6 November 2012.[ii]

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 54,517 (July 2014 est)[iii]
• Registered Voters: N/A