The Electoral Commission says there is going to be an amendment brought in regarding the ballot paper for the general elections during the next sitting of Parliament as there is strong and repeated public demand for changes to Fiji’s ballot paper, with voters calling for names, faces and symbols instead of the current numbered system.
The issue was a central theme during the nationwide electoral reform consultations and was also raised before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs during the presentation of the Commission’s 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports.
Electoral Commission Chair Justice Usaia Ratuvili says the ballot paper design was the most common concern raised by members of the public across Fiji, and the Commission got the message loud and clear.
He says people do not want the crossword puzzle, they do not want the numbers, they want a face and a name.
He says while the demand was clear, the Commission also had to consider the practical realities of ballot design.
INSERT: Justice Ratuvili on ballot design 10th June
Justice Ratuvili says another recurring concern raised during consultations was the voting age, with some members of the public suggesting it should be increased from 18 years.
He says some Fijians felt that 18-year-olds were not mature enough to participate in national decision-making.
However, he says the voting age is not a matter the Commission can change, as it is set under constitutional and international obligations.
Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma questioned whether the Fijian Elections Office needs to have an eligibility list or requirements for those who want to contest the general elections.
INSERT: Sharma on eligibility 11th June
Justice Ratuvili says the same question was raised at various locations during the public consultations.
He says the short answer is that they are the electoral management body and their responsibility is to administer and deliver elections.
He says they act as the referee, and the referee has no business determining who can run onto the field or not.
He adds that issue falls into areas that the Commission believes should be decided by Parliament.
The Chair says electoral reform discussions are continuing with the Ministry of Justice and the Fiji Law Reform Commission, including broader considerations around electoral participation and system design.
He says that while reform discussions are underway, the Electoral Commission will continue to operate under existing legal frameworks.
Justice Ratuvili says they are preparing for the next general elections based on the current law, and until it is amended, they will assess how any changes affect their preparations.
He says electoral processes, including ballot design, will remain unchanged unless Parliament passes formal amendments to the law.
