[1] Although all candidates ran as independents, an opposition bloc had emerged following the 1976 election of Tupuola Efi as Prime Minister in Parliament.

[2] Around a week before the elections, the Department of the Prime Minister issued a statement stating that three MPs had been meeting with an American firm the government considered to be dishonest.

Individual voters, primarily residents of European, Chinese or partial Samoan descent (half-caste), selected members for the other two seats.

Except for the non-ethnic Samoan seats, candidates were required to hold a matai title to be eligible to contest the election, whilst non-matai were not permitted to vote.

In May Chief Justice Bryan Nicholson annulled the results in four constituencies due to bribery, with the four members – George Lober, Le Tagaloa Pita, Letiu Tamatoa (Minister of Economic Development) and Muliagatele Vena – losing their seats.