General elections were held in
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabit ...
on 4 April 1964, the first since independence in 1962.
[Wide Support for Mataafa In First Samoan Elections]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', May 1964, p13 All candidates ran as independents. Following the elections,
Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Fiamē Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II (5 August 1921 – 20 May 1975) was a Samoa, Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataafa title, one of the four main Samoan Faamatai, chieftainships, he became the first Prime M ...
remained prime minister.
Electoral system
There were two voter rolls; one for indigenous Samoans (which was restricted to
Faʻamatai
''Faʻamatai'' is the indigenous political ('chiefly') system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society. It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in both Samoas, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of ...
) and one for non-indigenous citizens, known as "individual voters". People of mixed ancestry could choose which roll to register on. As women rarely gained matai titles, it was unusual for women to be able to vote or stand for election in the Samoan seats.
[
Prior to the elections, the number of elected members was increased from 46 to 47; the number of Samoan seats was increased from 41 to 45, and the number of non-indigenous seats reduced from five to two.]Dieter Nohlen
Dieter Nohlen (born 6 November 1939) is a German academic and political scientist. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Heidelberg. An ex ...
, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p782 [
]
Campaign
A total of 107 candidates contested the elections, with only one female candidate, Lefine Satia in Faasaleleaga 3.[107 To Contest First Samoan Election Since Independence]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1964, pp13–14 Prime Minister Mata'afa was challenged in his Lotofaga constituency by former MLA Fonoti Ioane
Fonoti Matautia Ioane (John) Brown (17 February 1901 – 9 October 1974) was a Western Samoan chief, businessman and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly in two spells between 1948 and 1957, and held the portfolios of Agric ...
.[
Fourteen candidates in the Samoan constituencies were returned unopposed.][ Only three candidates contested the two-seat individual voter constituency, all of which were incumbent MLAs.
]
Results
27 of the 47 elected MLAs were new to the legislature.[ Voter turnout was around 90% for individual voters.][
]
Aftermath
Following the elections, Mata'afa was unanimously re-elected as prime minister by the Legislative Assembly. He then appointed a nine-member cabinet, including three new ministers, Papaliʻi Poumau, Ulualofaiga Talamaivao Vaelaʻa and Laufili Time.[
]
See also
* List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa (1964–1967)
References
External links
Samoan election results by constituency 1964–2016
Samoa Election Results Database
{{Samoan elections
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabit ...
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Elections in Samoa
Non-partisan elections
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabit ...
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results