General elections should be held in January, 2023 – Gavoka

Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the Bill to Amend the Electoral Registration of Voters Act aims to better protect the voters however SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka says we should have the general elections in January 2023 and do things properly and not in haste.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the amendment will see the issuing of new voter cards that are more secure and also has the designated polling venue for the voter.

He says more than 200,000 voters have also been issued their new cards.

After having received and reviewed the Multinational Observer Group’s report on the 2018 General Elections, the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office recommended a few changes to the Act.

The Electoral Registration of Voters Amendment says the voter card will have the registered voter’s full name, photograph, date of birth, residential address, voter number, polling venue and any other information as required by the Supervisor of Elections.

The new law also gives a voter the opportunity to select a polling venue closest to their residence and an alternative polling venue.

It also allows the Supervisor of Elections to publish the Register of Voters and political parties can obtain a copy of the Register upon the payment of an approved fee.

A new section also states that the data obtained from voters is protected and not disclosed to any person by the registration officer or any person employed by FEO at the time of registration.

It also includes a provision which states that if a person contravenes the section, he or she is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years.

Meanwhile Gavoka says they know the earliest they can have the elections is in July, 2022 and the latest in January 2023.

While contributing on the Bill to amend the Electoral Registration of Voters Act 2012, Gavoka says we need to tell people when the next general elections will be as this will give them enough time to change their voter ID card.

He says if this is not done, then a lot of people will not vote and we may end up in a situation where more than 171,000 voters may not vote in the next elections.

The SODELPA Leader adds that voters should be allowed to use the current voter card for the next general elections.

The bill has been passed in parliament.