The Fijian Elections Office is in talks with Fiji missions overseas to work out mechanics relating to the registration of eligible voters based overseas.
With the COVID-19 situation Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem is cautious about sending FEO staff overseas.
“It’s not very easy to travel out of Fiji right now,” Saneem told political parties during a briefing this week. “We are also very concerned about sending staff overseas in case there are locked out in their trip overseas, so we have to balance the scales [and] we’re working with Fiji missions overseas in this regard.”
As at 31 December 2021, nearly 8,000 Fijians residing overseas have been registered to vote, but none in the 18-20 age group.
For the 2018 elections, about 13 per cent of the 7,970 registered Fijians overseas voted.
Meanwhile, registration of voters locally continues. The FEO will also be carrying out a nationwide voter registration and awareness drive from this Saturday, 26 February 2022 through Saturday, 2 April 2022 at the following venues. Voters wishing to upgrade their cards but do not have their birth certificates can do so as well during the nationwide registration drive.
