2 Sep 2014

Fiji begins pre-polling this week

5:45 am on 2 September 2014

The elections authorities in Fiji say they will continue to distribute voter education material in coming days with people in remote areas due to start voting on Wednesday.

Fiji voting information pamphlets

Fiji voting information pamphlets Photo: RNZI

Pre-polling will take place up until two days before the election on September the 17th, according to the list of pre-polling venues released by the Fijian Elections Office.

The office says voter instruction booklets left Suva on Saturday.

The Electoral Decree allows for votes to be cast early in remote locations or in places where there are not enough voters for the establishment of a polling station.

Members of the disciplined forces, those in detention and in hospital are also entitled to vote early.

Fiji media report the 48-hour media blackout before election day will not apply to pre-polling but political parties have to observe a 300 metre exclusion area around each polling venue.

The Elections Office has also been preparing to send out more than 12,000 postal ballot papers.