The Electoral Commission has formally opened the campaign period for Fiji’s next General Election, declaring it in force from today and setting the legal framework that will govern political activity until the vote. The Commission said campaigning will cease 48 hours before Election Day, in line with Section 109A(1) of the Electoral Act 2014.
Under the Act, the campaign window is constrained by a statutory timing formula: it cannot begin earlier than 30 days before the completion of three years and six months from the date Parliament first sat after the last General Election. The Commission’s declaration comes as the nation prepares for a General Election that must be held between 7 August and 6 February 2027. The earliest date on which the Writ of Election may be issued is 24 June 2026 — the formal move that would launch the detailed election timetable, including nomination deadlines and polling arrangements.
The Electoral Commission used the opening declaration to urge all political parties, candidates, supporters, civil society organisations and members of the public to campaign peacefully and truthfully, and to adhere to the law. The reminder underscores the Commission’s role in preserving a fair and orderly contest as the campaign period brings heightened political activity across the country.
This development arrives against a backdrop of significant political realignment over the past year. The FijiFirst party was de-registered in July 2024 for failing to comply with statutory constitutional amendment requirements, a move confirmed by Registrar of Political Parties Ana Mataiciwa. Since then, several prominent figures from the former ruling party have reconfigured their affiliations: a new party, People First, registered in January 2026 under the leadership of Semi Koroilavesau and drawing notable names including former MPs such as Inia Seruiratu and Jone Usumate. Those shifts have reshaped the electoral landscape and increased the stakes for the campaign now under way.
With the campaign officially open, political organisations will move from preparatory activity into full public campaigning, including rallies, advertising and voter outreach. The 48-hour pre-election blackout specified in the Act will prohibit campaigning immediately before polls open; the Electoral Commission’s notice makes clear it expects compliance and will monitor conduct during the period.
The Commission’s declaration is the latest formal step in a timeline that will accelerate if and when the Writ of Election is issued from 24 June 2026. For now, parties and candidates have a regulated window in which to present platforms and contest seats, while the public and observers will watch how newly formed party structures and recent realignments play out on the campaign trail.