General elections were held in
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...
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 Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataafa title, one of the four main Samoan chieftainships, he became the first prime minister of Wes ...
remained Prime Minister.
Electoral system
There were two voter rolls; one for indigenous Samoans (which was restricted to
''matai'') 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 expe ...
, 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.[
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, Papali'i Poumau, Ulualofaiga Talamaivao
Ulualofaiga Talamaivao Vaela'a (died 5 September 1971) was a Western Samoan politician and paramount chief of Fagaloa. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1954 until his death, and as Minister for Health and Minister of Just ...
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; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Elections in Samoa
Non-partisan elections
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results