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FEO conducts mock polling exercise for 2018 election

September 18, 2018 1:01 am

The Fijian Elections Office conducted a mock polling exercise that will be suited for a polling venue when there is no building or when the polling venue is an open ground area.

The mock was done in four stages exactly like how it will be set out in various locations during the upcoming election.

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says these four stages included the registration of polling agents, the normal process of an ordinary voter, voting for persons with disabilities who already have assistance and those that will need to be assisted by presiding officers.

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“The idea is to have the shed as a standard design for everywhere that the FEO is going to step up its own polling station. We already have done the procurement, we have sufficient numbers present at all at the locations. The arrangement with police is for security so in the event the police says okay this polling venue is a lower risk area, if there is an y emergency we can be contacted on this number, they can have zero police officers, they can also decide this polling venue has ten polling stations looks like we’ll just put four officers here for security and order.”

Some political party members were also present to observe the mock exercise.

Saneem adds all polling stations will have the same design, ensuring it caters for all kinds of voters.

The total number of FEO sheds that will be set up is yet to be determined as voter registration continues.