Polling date set for 7498 voters as official tally begins for Fiji election

Voters who missed out on casting their votes after their polling venues were closed on election day will be able to do so tomorrow. Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem confirmed yesterday that 7498 voters would cast their votes at 22 polling venues tomorrow. Picture: web.facebook.com/pg/FijianGovernment/photos

By MEREONI MILI

A total of 7498 voters will cast their votes tomorrow from 7.30am to 6pm after their polling venues were closed on election day because of adverse weather.

During a press conference yesterday, Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said the Fijian Elections Office was working on providing transportation for the voters.

Supervisor of Election Mohammed Saneem. Picture: FILE

On election day, 23 polling venues were forced to close after bad weather made it inaccessible for voters. As a result of this, 7852 voters were unable to cast their votes.

“In terms of polling operations, the Fijian Election Office will be ready to conduct polling on Saturday,” Mr Saneem said.

“Awareness will be created with the assistance of the turaga ni koro, local newspapers, radio and television to inform voters of the new date.”

The affected areas include Delakado FEO shed, Natadradave FEO shed, Nasinu community hall, Turagabeci Primary School, Lodoni Primary School, Naivicula District School, Korotale Mandir hall, Namuaniwaqa Primary School, Mataso Primary School, Rewasasa community hall, Nausori Technical School, Visama Sanatan Dharam Primary School, Naqeledamu Village School, Nukutocia Village shed, Naisoqo Settlement FEO ground shed, Shantikettan Primary School, Naviniivisau community hall, Krishna Janaradhan School, Logani community hall, Matacaucau community hall, Nausori community hall and Gram Sangathan School.

Meanwhile, the final national results tally has been released via the Fijian Election Office app, available on Google Play and Apply Store for mobile smartphone users.

Mr Saneem said the final results were not a recount of the provisional results, adding these results had been physically transmitted to the Fijian Elections Office as part of the protocols of results.

“There seem to be a misconception that this is a recount, please note that it is not a recount,” he said.

Voting results from 2170 stations are currently being finalised at the National Results Centre in Suva.

* Mereoni Mili is a final-year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific in Suva.