Supervisor of Elections says they are not doing well with voter turnout

With an hour remaining for people to cast their votes, registered voters who have not voted are being urged to vote.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem is urging registered voters to vote as this opportunity only comes once in four years.

As at 12pm today Saneem says they were not doing well with voter turnout.

Saneem says he has received similar reports from the West and they are awaiting more information from various polling stations.

Saneem has strongly advised his staff at polling stations to take their time and look up the details of every voter.

Saneem says they have received a number of queries from voters asking why their numbers are not on the list at polling stations.

He says upon checking the list at the count centre, their names have been found to be on the list.

Saneem stressed that if a voter turns up with a text message from 1500 that their name is on the list; the name is on the list.

He has also advised the public that if they are being advised that their name is not on the list at a polling station but they have received a message from 1500 saying they are registered to vote their to ask the Presiding Officer to check again.

The Supervisor of Elections has also advised the Presiding Officers not to turn anyone away until a thorough check has been made.

Looking at polling stations from around the country:

For First time voter, Nafiza Bi who had cast her vote at Davuilevu Methodist Primary School this morning, voting today was a family event.

Bi says that her whole family discussed to go cast their votes together this morning.

She adds that today was an exciting moment as she had been looking forward to cast her vote.

Bi says she found the process very efficient as it took her only three minutes to cast her vote after arriving at the venue.

In the Northern Division, Shek Daud who had cast his vote in Tabia says that despite the rain people are still arriving in numbers to cast their vote adding that it took him 5 minutes to cast his vote.

Deepak Kumar says that he was confident to cast his vote at Vitogo District School in Lautoka and was pleased with the assistance provided to voters at the polling venue.

73 year old, Ilisapeci Vodo who cast her vote at Adi Cakobau School in Sawani says that it was a fairly easy process for her and members of her community.

Makarita Rakabu of Field 40 in Lautoka says that she was impressed with the efficiency of the voting process compared to the 2014 election.

Meanwhile a voter, Shelvin Kumar has shared on social media that it took him less than 5 minutes to cast his vote and has also urged people to go out and cast their votes and make their voices heard.

Kumar also commended the Fijian Elections Office for a well organised election.