The Review Report on the National Referendum Bill has been tabled in Parliament, with the Bill to be debated on Thursday where the report has made recommendations that include provisions for the President to issue the referendum writ, voting by registered voters outside Fiji and a 30-to-45-day referendum period.
While tabling the report, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, Assistant Minister for Defence Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure says the proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening the practicality, transparency, inclusiveness and administration of the referendum process.
He says under the proposed framework, the President would issue a writ following notification from the Speaker of Parliament.
Ratu Rakuita says the writ would set out key details including the voting date, referendum question, closure of the voter register and the return of the writ.
He says registered voters who are outside Fiji would remain entitled to vote in a referendum.
Ratu Rakuita says the referendum period would also be extended to between 30 and 45 days after the writ is issued to allow time for voter education, overseas voting arrangements and electoral preparations.
He says referendum details and constitutional amendment proposals, together with summaries of parliamentary debates, would also be published to support voter education and informed decision-making.
The Assistant Minister says if a referendum is held alongside a general election, the proposed framework would allow the use of the same electoral officials, polling venues, ballot boxes and voter lists, while maintaining separate ballot papers and counting procedures.
He says voters would be able to tick, cross or circle either “Yes” or “No” on the ballot paper, while multiple referendum questions could be included on a single ballot paper.
Ratu Rakuita says the Supervisor of Elections would prepare national referendum results, which would be endorsed by the Electoral Commission before being sent to the President for final declaration.
He says the proposed amendments would also allow the Minister and Electoral Commission to make rules covering voter education, referendum campaigns, public meetings, campaign finance and dispute resolution.
Ratu Rakuita says referendum records would be retained for six months before being destroyed unless otherwise ordered by a court.
