Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title48-section1732&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2020-02-28 22:13:14
Document Index: 801227204

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1732', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§3', '§1']

[USC02] 48 USC 1732: Election of delegates
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48 USC 1732: Election of delegates Text contains those laws in effect on February 27, 2020
From Title 48-TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONSCHAPTER 16-DELEGATES TO CONGRESSSUBCHAPTER II-AMERICAN SAMOA
Notwithstanding subsection (a), if the legislature of American Samoa provides for primary elections for the election of Delegate, the Delegate shall be elected by a majority of votes cast in any subsequent general election for the office of Delegate for which such primary elections were held.
( Pub. L. 95–556, §2, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2078 ; Pub. L. 108–376, §2, Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2200 .)
2004-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–376, §2(1), substituted "plurality of the votes cast" for "majority of the votes cast" and struck out "If no candidate receives such majority, on the fourteenth day following such election a runoff election shall be held between the candidates receiving the highest and the second highest number of votes cast for the office of Delegate." before "In case of".
Pub. L. 108–376, §3, Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2201 , provided that: "The amendments made by paragraph (1) of section 2 [amending subsec. (a) of this section] shall take effect on January 1, 2006. The amendment made by paragraph (2) of section 2 [adding subsecs. (c) and (d) of this section] shall take effect on January 1, 2005."
Pub. L. 108–376, §1, Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2200 , provided that: "Congress finds the following:
"(1) It is in the national interest that qualifying members of the Armed Forces on active duty and other overseas voters be allowed to vote in Federal elections.
"(2) 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 runoff elections have been held 2 weeks later.
"(3) This practice of holding a run-off election 2 weeks after a general election deprives members of the Armed Forces on active duty and other overseas voters of the opportunity to participate in the Federal election process in American Samoa.
"(4) Prior to and since September 11, 2001, and due to limited air service, mail delays, and other considerations, it has been and remains impossible for absentee ballots to be prepared and returned within a 2-week period.
"(5) American Samoa law requiring members of the Armed Forces on active duty and other overseas voters to register in person also prevents participation in the Federal election process and is contrary to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act [52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.].
"(6) Given that 49 states elect their Representatives to the United States House of Representatives by plurality, it is in the national interest for American Samoa to do the same until such time as the American Samoa Legislature establishes primary elections and declares null and void the local practice of requiring members of the Armed Forces on active duty and other overseas voters to register in person which is contrary to the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act."