Pacific Is Forum Election Observer Grp
Forum Observer Statement Fiji Elections
15-06
PRESS STATEMENT
14 May 2006 19:54:01
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ELECTION OBSERVER GROUP
INTERIM STATEMENT ON FIJI ELECTION
Election Observers from the Pacific Islands Forum say that on the basis of what is now known, the voting process in Fiji's week long election has been conducted in a fair and credible manner overall, although some features of the process can be improved.
The Pacific Islands Forum deployed 25 observers around Fiji and some of them will be observing the official counting of ballots over the next two days, said Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, who is also the Team Leader.
Polling officials appeared to make all the efforts they could to ensure that registered voters were able to exercise their right to vote for the candidate or political party that they supported. The Forum observers were impressed with the professionalism of election officials, police and support staff who worked very long hours during the seven day voting period, and the patience of voters.
The Forum observers noted a range of specific problems which were mainly linked to the voter registration process with which the Supervisor of Elections and his staff are obliged to work. These included names missing from the rolls, or registered in the wrong constituency, thereby depriving the voter of his or her right to take part in the election. While precise figures are not yet available, the observers believe the numbers involved may be relatively low and unlikely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the poll, but they represent a key shortcoming that should be addressed in preparations for future elections.
The Elections Office may wish to consider the merits of moving to a system of a continuous registration of voters, as the current practice where registration is organised just prior to an election seems to place undue pressure on election officials and to lead to avoidable errors.
Given the short period that the Elections Office was given to prepare for the election, it was possibly inevitable that problems with planning and logistics - the absence of some names from the rolls; the late starts on the first day; and transport and communication problems at some of the polling stations, were magnified.
It is to the credit of the voters, the candidates, police and elections officials, and the network of support staff working behind the scenes, that Fiji has completed an election process in which the great majority of voters were able to exercise their right to vote, and to do so freely, Mr Urwin said.
The Pacific Islands Forum will issue a more detailed report on the election, including its recommendations, after counting of votes is completed this week. The report will first go to the election authorities and the government of the day, before it is released to Forum member governments and the public.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
15 May 2006
15-06
PRESS STATEMENT
14 May 2006 19:54:01
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ELECTION OBSERVER GROUP
INTERIM STATEMENT ON FIJI ELECTION
Election Observers from the Pacific Islands Forum say that on the basis of what is now known, the voting process in Fiji's week long election has been conducted in a fair and credible manner overall, although some features of the process can be improved.
The Pacific Islands Forum deployed 25 observers around Fiji and some of them will be observing the official counting of ballots over the next two days, said Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, who is also the Team Leader.
Polling officials appeared to make all the efforts they could to ensure that registered voters were able to exercise their right to vote for the candidate or political party that they supported. The Forum observers were impressed with the professionalism of election officials, police and support staff who worked very long hours during the seven day voting period, and the patience of voters.
The Forum observers noted a range of specific problems which were mainly linked to the voter registration process with which the Supervisor of Elections and his staff are obliged to work. These included names missing from the rolls, or registered in the wrong constituency, thereby depriving the voter of his or her right to take part in the election. While precise figures are not yet available, the observers believe the numbers involved may be relatively low and unlikely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the poll, but they represent a key shortcoming that should be addressed in preparations for future elections.
The Elections Office may wish to consider the merits of moving to a system of a continuous registration of voters, as the current practice where registration is organised just prior to an election seems to place undue pressure on election officials and to lead to avoidable errors.
Given the short period that the Elections Office was given to prepare for the election, it was possibly inevitable that problems with planning and logistics - the absence of some names from the rolls; the late starts on the first day; and transport and communication problems at some of the polling stations, were magnified.
It is to the credit of the voters, the candidates, police and elections officials, and the network of support staff working behind the scenes, that Fiji has completed an election process in which the great majority of voters were able to exercise their right to vote, and to do so freely, Mr Urwin said.
The Pacific Islands Forum will issue a more detailed report on the election, including its recommendations, after counting of votes is completed this week. The report will first go to the election authorities and the government of the day, before it is released to Forum member governments and the public.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
15 May 2006
