By Geraldine Panapasa in Suva
As many as 18,316 Fijians are expected to cast their votes at 149 pre-poll venues around the country for the 2022 General Election as they opened yesterday.
Pre-polling started at 8am at 24 venues in the Central Division, 52 venues in the Eastern Division, 42 in the Western Division and 31 in the North, according to the Fijian Elections Office.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said there were 77,907 registered voters for pre-polling in 613 venues.
He said voters could access pre-poll times, venues and schedules of where teams would be on the FEO website and their Facebook page.
“The Electoral Act, under Section 82, allows for votes to be cast early in remote locations or in places where there are not enough voters for the establishment of a polling station,” he said.
“Schedules for pre-poll have also been shared with the respective turaga-ni-koro, district advisory councillors and the roko-ni-tui so that voters in their areas could be informed.
“For the 2022 General Election, the FEO has also put Pre-Poll road signs in each of the locations where Pre-Poll will be taking place.”
VoterCards needed
Registered voters are reminded to take their VoterCards to the polling station and to seek assistance from the presiding officer if they are unsure of anything while inside the station.
Saneem said the Voter Instruction Booklet (VIB) was widely distributed in pre-poll locations and FEO teams would also be carrying copies of the VIB to distribute to voters entering the Polling Station.
Pre-poll voting commences on the 35th day and ends on the 39th day after the issue of Writ.
Pre-poll ballot papers will be counted at the National Count Centre on election night.
- Nine Wansolwara student journalists, including two Australian exchange students, will be covering the Fiji election on December 14. Watch for their coverage here.
Geraldine Panapasa is editor-in-chief of Wansolwara News at the University of the South Pacific. Republished as part of a journalism education partnership.
