The Social Empowerment Education Program (SEEP) says two to three months may not be enough to properly implement proposed changes to Fiji’s electoral laws before the next general election, despite supporting several reforms contained in the Electoral Amendment Bill 2026.
SEEP Research and Policy Officer Metuisela Gauna raised the concern while making the organisation’s submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights in Labasa.
Gauna says adequate time is needed to train electoral officials, update systems, educate voters and ensure political parties and candidates understand the proposed changes.
He says the election cannot be delayed or extended further and suggested the proposed legislation could instead be introduced next year to allow sufficient time for implementation.
SEEP welcomed several proposed changes, including the removal of the 48-hour campaign blackout, reducing the campaign-free zone from 300 metres to 100 metres, expanding postal voting, removing statutory declaration requirements and allowing assistive devices for persons with disabilities.
However, they say stronger safeguards are needed in several areas before the reforms are implemented.
SEEP is calling for clearer provisions on who will monitor whether candidates continue to meet eligibility requirements after nomination and what happens if a candidate becomes ineligible.
They recommend that the Supervisor of Elections be clearly designated as the monitoring authority, with defined powers, processes and timelines, as well as an opportunity for affected candidates to be heard and an appropriate appeal mechanism.
SEEP is also calling for clearer rules around recounts, supervisory decisions and electoral offences, including defining the circumstances in which recounts can be ordered and extending appeal rights to significant supervisory decisions.
The organisation says penalties should also be proportionate to the seriousness of an offence.
It has further called for Electoral Commission Rules referred to in the Bill to be made publicly available so political parties, candidates and voters can understand their obligations and rights.
SEEP is also recommending a comprehensive public awareness campaign through radio, television, social media, print and community meetings.
They say information should be available in iTaukei, Hindi, Rotuman and English, while complex definitions and relevant electoral laws and guidance material should be simplified to improve public understanding.
Gauna says electoral reform should be treated as a national endeavour serving all Fijians rather than being driven by political interests.
