News

Elections Office to keep a close eye on blackout period

November 11, 2018 4:01 am

Less than seven hours remain before the country goes into a 48-hour campaign blackout period and the Fijian Elections Office is calling on every Fijian to take heed of the legal requirements.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem says the Elections Office has published the legal particulars in relation to the blackout period.

He adds Fijians must read through all the provisions and ensure they’re in compliance with it adding that candidates and parties must ensure all campaign materials are being taken down.

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”My advice to all candidates is to ensure that you have taken down all the billboards under your name and political parties must make sure that if there are billboards under their name that its taken down by midnight tonight as well as put out information to your supporters and representatives to remove the billboards and other campaign materials that have been distributed around the country.”

Saneem says the Elections Office will keep a close eye on the usual’s to ensure the blackout period is respected and Fijians get the opportunity to make their decision over the next two days.

The 48 hour campaign blackout is from midnight tonight to midnight Tuesday.

Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or to both.