Fijian Elections Office transports the first batch of ballot papers

The Fijian Elections Office has transported the first batch of ballot papers from the printery to secure storage yesterday afternoon.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem says postal ballots will be going out today and they have sufficient processes in place for the careful management and handling of ballot papers.

He says overseas ballot papers will be going through DHL and the local ballot papers will be going through EMS as well as delivery by the FEO..

He adds as of this afternoon they have received a total of 3,471 postal vote applications and each of them will be receiving a postal package.

Saneem adds once the voter has received the postal package they must use the voter identification booklet and identify the candidate that they wish to vote for, then mark the ballot paper and return the ballot paper in the prepaid return envelope.

He says this process is the same for local and overseas voters.

He adds for overseas voters once they have marked their ballot paper they can ask DHL to collect it from home.

The SOE says once the DHL packet is prepared in Fiji and it is entered into the DHL system, they will start getting their tracking details and can reroute their ballot paper to the place where they are.

Saneem reminded the voters that when they are marking the ballot paper they have to mark the ballot paper for only one candidate.

He adds they have to either circle or cross the number of the candidate they wish to vote for.

He says they have to fill out the transmission envelope with all the details that they are supposed to fill out when applying for a postal vote.

He adds if they do not fill out the details that match the application, their postal vote might be rejected.

Saneem adds all postal ballots must reach the Fijian Elections Office no later than 6pm on the 14th of December and if the postal ballot is late, it will not be considered.

He says voters will not be able to go and vote at a polling station on election day or during pre-poll and will not be allowed to return the marked postal ballot to one of the polling stations.

He adds it must come back to the FEO branch or directly through mail and must reach the FEO before the deadline.

He says there are only six days left for postal vote application forms to reach the FEO and if you are not able to reach your polling venue on election day, you must apply for a postal vote.