There are 1682 provisional polling venues listed with the Fijian Elections Office.

This has been confirmed by Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem.

He says with the new ’Polling Venue Locator" application launched yesterday, they expect 306 new polling venues.

However, Saneem says an assessment will be conducted later to confirm whether they will adopt all the new ones or only some.

“We’re happy to add more venues provided you can let us know that in your particular areas you have a place that’s suitable for a venue and one of the requirements is that it should allow for unlimited public access meaning you don’t need any qualifications or particular requirements before you can enter the premises. We will be able to consider that as a venue.”

Saneem says that by this time next year, they will be able to issue a fixed venue with certificates and a sticker to confirm details whether it’s a pre-poll or polling venue.

He has also clarified that they have reduced pre-poll venues from 554 to 552.

Saneem adds that come the 2018 general election there will be close to 2000 polling venues around the country.

The polling venue locator application can be accessed through the Fijian Elections Office website on www.electionsfiji.gov.fj.