Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has clarified that there is no such law in place that states there is a ‘No Jab No Vote Policy’.
Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted this when questioned about a concern raised by a woman who wanted to get a new Voter Card but was not allowed to get a new one as she claims that she was told by the staff of FEO that only the people who have been vaccinated will be allowed to vote or change their Voter Cards.
Raijeli Kakua says she visited the Tailevu Provincial Council Office in Nausori on the 24th of January 2022 when this alleged incident occurred.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has said that the FEO staff has confirmed that Kakua attended the Voter Services Centre and upon checking that she was not vaccinated, they informed her that she would not be allowed in and then she left.
When questioned on what Saneem had said had happened, Kakua says it was stated to her clearly that she will not enter and she will not vote.
Saneem says the staff have confirmed that they did not give any further advice or direction to her as she got up and left.
He confirms they have advised Kakua that she can visit the nearest Voter Services Centre for voter services.
He had already clarified that they will no longer be conducting Vax Check at their venues, however, it will continue with other COVID-19 safety measures at its premises.
Saneem says now that the clarification has been done, anyone that was affected by the earlier measures and could not obtain voter services can do so from now until the election.
When we questioned the Acting Prime Minister, he said that this kind of operational matter should not be directed to the Minister Responsible for Elections as they do not run the Fijian Elections Office. He says they only deal with the financing of the Elections Office and any laws to do with elections.
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