Fijians voting in the 2022 general elections could expect to also identify their candidates by their party’s name or symbol as the Electoral Commission has made submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the Electoral Amendment Bills 2021 where they say the National Candidates List that is given to voters when they come to vote should contain political party information.
The current National Candidates List shows the candidates number, their name and their photograph.
Electoral Commission Chairperson, Suresh Chandra in the recommendation to the Committee says the Commission and the Multinational Observer Group from 2014 to 2018 had recommended that the National Candidates List that is given to every voter when they come to vote should contain political party information.
He says this amendment by parliament will allow the voter to identify the candidate by the party since nominations in Fiji are by party list, and also considering that the electoral system is based on parties.
Chandra says having the names or the symbols of the party on the National Candidates List will make the process more consistent.
The Commission also says it is necessary to prohibit the use of state resources in campaigning for the general elections.
Chandra says the Commission notes that in 2018, the media highlighted one candidate who went in his official vehicle to campaign in Cunningham and the change in the law is welcomed particularly in terms of levelling the playing field.
The Electoral Commission also says the law should be amended to require the Fijian Elections Office to publish the voter list at least 18 months before the first date the Writ of Elections can be issued.
The Chairman says the Electoral Act can be amended to require that the provisional voter list be published annually on or before the 30th of September each year.
He says the Electoral Commission believes this amendment will allow political parties to work with the Elections Office to verify and update the voter list.
The Chairman has also recommended that the Fijian Elections Office proposes the full list of polling venues for the next general elections at least 2 years prior to the first date the writ can be issued.
The Electoral Commission recommended that the law allow powers for the Supervisor of Elections to enforce the campaign blackout and to allow the Supervisor to issue directives to remove campaign material that is in breach of the law.
He has also highlighted that the amended section authorizes the Supervisor of Elections to remove or to direct any political party, candidate or police officer to remove any material that is in breach of the campaign rules.
Chandra adds the current amendment will provide the necessary mechanism to protect the voters.
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