For the upcoming General Election, the established practice of counting ordinary ballot papers at polling stations will continue.
This has been stressed by the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office following concerns raised by civil society organisations regarding the recent amendments to the Electoral Act 2014, particularly the insertion of section 89A, which provides for the counting of ballot papers at counting centres approved by the EC.
The Commission and FEO say they recognise the importance of transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process and welcome constructive engagement from stakeholders on matters relating to electoral integrity.
They say Section 89A of the Electoral Act 2014, empowers the Electoral Commission to approve the counting of ballot papers at designated counting centres as an alternative to counting at polling stations while the National Referendum Act 2026 makes the equivalent provision under section 6(2), which are enabling provisions and create options for the EC.
They stress that they do not mandate a change.
The Commission and the FEO emphasize the decentralised count for ordinary ballots at polling stations remains the approach for the General Election.
They say the Commission as an independent constitutional body, is responsible for making decisions concerning electoral arrangements in accordance with the Constitution and applicable electoral legislation while the FEO, under the direction of the Supervisor of Elections, is responsible for the operational administration of elections.
They say any approval of centralised counting arrangements would involve a careful assessment of the necessary operational procedures and safeguards, including the secure handling, transportation and storage of ballot boxes, documented chain-of-custody procedures and appropriate oversight by political party polling agents and accredited observers.
The Commission and the FEO say these safeguards would be communicated clearly to all stakeholders before implementation.
They acknowledge the established counting procedures used during previous General Elections and reaffirm that the security of ballot papers, transparency of the counting process and accuracy of election results remain fundamental requirements of electoral administration, irrespective of where counting takes place.
They say centralised counting is not a new practice in Fiji's electoral process, having been implemented for postal and pre-poll ballot papers during the past three General Elections, with established procedures and safeguards in place to maintain transparency and electoral integrity.
The Commission and the FEO say they remain committed to the conduct of transparent, credible and inclusive elections and referenda in accordance with Fiji's electoral laws.
They add that they will ensure that any decisions on counting arrangements are made in the interests of electoral integrity, voter secrecy and public confidence, and that all stakeholders are kept fully informed.
