1 Sep 2014

Fiji's NFP reports confusion over pre-polling

1:00 pm on 1 September 2014

Fiji's National Federation Party says pre-polling due to start this week is confused, rushed and disorganised and there are voters who still don't know they are meant to vote before election day.

Elections authorities announced a week ago voting for the September election would take place in remote areas over a ten-day period starting on Wednesday.

The police, military and prisoners are among other voters also allowed to vote during this time.

The NFP's leader Biman Prasad says he's spoken to voters at a community near Sigatoka who were not aware they had to place their vote during the pre-polling period.

"The area that I was in last evening is not a remote area. The reason that the people gave there is it's a flood-prone area so perhaps that was the reason they used. But to me it didn't sound a very convincing reason to have pre-polling in that area which is very accessible and two or three kilometres from Sigatoka town."

Dr Prasad say the NFP wants a concerted campaign from the election authorities to ensure all communities in pre-polling areas do not miss out on their chance to vote.