The Fijian Elections Office is currently focused on preparing for the 2026 general election and the upcoming local government elections later this year. Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa recently announced the commencement of the legal destruction of 2022 general election ballot papers, marking the official conclusion of that election phase.
Over the next five weeks, the Elections Office will carefully destroy 2,066 ballot boxes, ensuring that this process is conducted accurately and legally. Mataiciwa emphasized the importance of taking one’s time to guarantee precision and noted that a small, dedicated team will oversee the destruction to maintain integrity throughout the operation. To ensure transparency, the process will be monitored by a police officer and a quality assurance representative, and registered political parties have been invited to observe.
The current ballot paper destruction comes at a time when the Elections Office is evaluating polling venues for the 2026 elections and the local elections scheduled for this year. Teams are assessing locations for their suitability and accessibility, and efforts to update voter lists are also underway. Community leaders will be involved in confirming provisional voter lists to allow any necessary updates.
Similar prior articles reflected ongoing concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process, particularly following the significant “glitch” that occurred during the 2022 general election, which raised public skepticism about vote counts. Supervisor Mataiciwa has been vocal about the pressing need for clarity and transparency regarding this issue, particularly as the nation moves forward with electoral preparations.
The continued commitment by the Elections Office to improve processes and learn from previous challenges demonstrates a positive outlook for the electoral framework in Fiji. As the preparations progress, the focus on accuracy and stakeholder engagement gives hope that future elections will uphold the principles of transparency and fairness, fostering public trust in the democratic process.
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