The Fijian Elections Office has launched a nationwide voter education and registration drive, unveiling the “Fiji YES Outreach” initiative as preparations intensify ahead of the coming local government and general elections. Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa announced the programme on Monday, saying it is designed to boost voter awareness and make registration services more accessible to communities across Fiji and Fijians living overseas.
“YES stands for Your Election, Your Say,” Ms Mataiciwa told attendees at the launch, stressing the central message that participation begins with individual responsibility. “Your election starts with you. It begins the moment you register, and it grows as you understand what elections are truly about,” she said, adding that the aim is to “put the power back where it belongs — into your hands.”
Fiji YES Outreach will deploy FEO teams across all four administrative divisions, with special emphasis on reaching maritime and interior communities where access to electoral services can be limited. According to the office, teams are already operating on the ground to ensure eligible voters are registered and that existing enrolment details are up to date ahead of polling. The initiative also explicitly targets Fijians overseas through coordinated registration and engagement activities.
The campaign’s activities include community-level engagement to clarify voter eligibility, explain registration procedures and deadlines, and communicate key electoral dates so citizens can plan to participate. The FEO said the programme couples on-the-ground registration drives with public information efforts intended to improve understanding of both local government roles and the wider parliamentary process — aiming to address both procedural barriers and civic knowledge gaps.
Ms Mataiciwa framed the outreach as more than administrative housekeeping, urging citizens to recognise their role in shaping the nation’s future. “We want to empower you, our communities, to be ready, be informed, be aware, and to confidently make the decision to vote for the leaders you trust to be your voice,” she said. The Supervisor of Elections underscored that active participation remains central to a strong and representative democracy in Fiji.
The launch of Fiji YES Outreach adds a focused registration and education component to the growing slate of election preparations. Electoral authorities have been expanding public information efforts and logistical planning in recent months to support both municipal and national polls; the FEO’s move to include maritime and interior outreach, and to reach citizens abroad, addresses long-standing challenges in enrolling voters who live in remote areas or outside the country.
With teams now deployed nationwide and overseas registration a specific part of the programme, the FEO is positioning the outreach as a practical step to shore up the electoral roll and encourage voter turnout. The office has urged all eligible Fijians to check their registration status and take advantage of local outreach sessions as the country moves closer to the local government and general election timetables.