"ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR LOCAL ELECTION"

 

Guest Editorial by Iuniasolua Tului Savusa

 

[Editor's Note: Iuniasolua T. Savusa is the command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe and the Army's highest-ranking Samoan enlisted man.]

 

American Samoans in the US Military are constituents and taxpayers that should be afforded the opportunity to vote using absentee ballots in our local election.

 

I once asked a friend whether he would vote for a candidate that is uninformed or apathetic with his needs and even our country. His answer is reminiscent of the Lawmakers who were voted into the Fono, he said "to do so is to stagnate, become irrelevant, even dry, and blown away".

 

Lawmakers telling "Eni changes to election laws are from the Fono" is a welcome statement by the Fono Leadership, acknowledging they have accepted their responsibility and are committed to the people of American Samoa including all of their constituents in the United States Military.

 

Regrettably, I know all too well, these words are hollow at best and not worth the ink and paper it is printed on.

 

In March 2000, I wrote to every lawmaker both Senators and Representatives including the Governor and Lieutenant Governor who is currently Governor of American Samoa, urging them to change local election laws to allow service members to vote because we are TAXPAYERS to the American Samoan Government .

 

I personally met with Governor Togiola in his office and other lawmakers in the Fono building on the subject. Unfortunately, I returned to duty saddened by the apathetical lack of concern for American Samoan taxpayers serving our Nation's Military around the world.

 

Despite the setback, myself and other service members have actively engaged Congressman Eni Faleomavaega for his support urging the Governor and the Fono to amend or change American Samoa election laws to allow service members to vote through absentee ballots for the local and federal elections.

 

This led to Congressman Faleomavaega sponsoring the plurality law in 2004, a right we proudly exercised in last year's election. In August 2006, I sent an e-mail to the current President of the Senate urging him, since there is already a procedure in place to certify that military members are eligible to vote in the federal election, it only makes sense that the local law extend this certification, so that military members may also vote for the local governor, lieutenant governor, and house members via an absentee ballot.

 

My correspondence went unanswered and today despite Congressman Faleomavaega's attempts, our Fono's leadership was indifferent and unyielding by the argument that we are constituents and taxpayers to American Samoa.

 

Sadly enough, the only lawmaker from American Samoa who is willing to speak for and defend our service members rights is Congressman Eni Faleomavaega.

 

Today, our Territory has paid a tremendous price with the blood sacrifice of our sons and daughters in this War on Terror to further the cause of freedom. Our Territory has suffered the highest death per capita in this War more than any State or Territory in the Union.

 

The least our Governor and Fono leadership can do is to honor the blood service of our Samoan servicemen and women by adopting a resolution to allow our Troops to vote through absentee ballot, debate it, vote in favor of it, and have the Governor sign it into law.

 

Unfortunately, Fono members are against this bill and one has publicly stated "it is the Soldier's fault if he/she joins the military without appearing locally to register to vote". Incredible!

 

I have a daughter who is scheduled to deploy next month to Iraq; a nephew and 15 personal dear friends of 32 years of active military service who have died in this War to bequeath the very freedom that gave him the right to say such a reckless, irresponsible, and immature public statement like this.

 

This may come as a surprise to you but we are actually fighting a War on Terror and service members of other States and Territories in the Union can vote in general elections on Federal, State, and Territory via absentee ballot. I think you owe an apology to every parent of all Samoan Soldiers who were killed in this War and every Service member who is currently serving to protect your freedom for that foolish and careless statement you made.

 

Additionally, this blatant disregard for our service members right to vote should be a JUST CAUSE for our Governor, Senators, and Representatives to change the present voting law on behalf of their constituents and TAXPAYERS who are unable to speak for themselves in the noble house of Paramount Chiefs, High Chiefs, and Representatives of our Territory, due to current obligations to the greatest military in the world.

 

Great leaders and Giants of our Territory have spoken eloquently to champion resolutions that further the of Rights for our citizens and I have all the confidence that our current leaders will review these issues objectively and do the right thing.

 

Finally, I vehemently urge and encourage all military members (Active, Reserve, and National Guard) to write and send e-mails to the Governor, Senators, and Representatives of American Samoa to adopt and vote in favor of a new resolution to change the voting laws to allow us to vote via absentee ballot, or otherwise support the bill that Congressman Eni Faleomavaega is pushing through the US Congress.

 

I fervently ask of your family members to do the same.