The Multinational Observer Group for the 2018 general elections has deployed three teams across Viti Levu to observe election processes related to pre‑poll voting and voter awareness.
The deployments took place between 9th to 12th October.
Observers visited villages in the Western Division and Central Division and engaged with communities about their experiences of voter registration and the electoral process more broadly.
The teams also discussed with communities the participation of women and disabled people in the election.
The Multinational Observers Group’s visits coincided with the Fijian Elections Office consultations with the villages on the provisional voter list and pre‑poll voting.
The villages visited by the observers included Sote, Vatukarasa, Nameka and Natuva in the Tailevu Province; Burelevu, Naraviravi, Navavai, Nayaulevu and Maniava in the Ra Province; and Naraiyawa, Wainimakutu, Naqarawai, Saliadrau and Navunikabi in the Namosi Province.
These are all pre‑poll locations.
One team of observers also visited a Republic of Fiji Military Force barracks in Lautoka which will be a pre‑poll venue.
Multinational Observer Group Coordinator Alice Cawte says the views of all Fijians about the electoral process are important to them.
She says they look forward to visiting more villages and towns over the coming weeks.
They also visited several Voter Services Centres, as well as Elections Office Area and Divisional Offices.
They discussed with officials voter education campaigns and processes relating to the registration of voters and pre‑poll voting.
The group also observed a training session in Suva for Fijian Elections Office officials responsible for conducting pre‑polling as part of the 2018 general election.
Prepoll will be held from the 5th to the 10th of November.
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