The Fijian Elections Office has been contacted by a number of voters querying about how individuals are calling them to ask about their political preferences.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem says they have gathered that these calls are from survey companies.

“These individuals asked these personal questions to the voter, regarding who they wish to voter for, which party they support, and which is the party they would not like to see in parliament. We understand that these questions that are being posed are by survey companies to voters to which are then reported in various media as survey report.”

However, Saneem is reminding the public that they do have a choice with answering these questions.

“Whilst I cannot completely stop surveys, I do wish to alert all voters that if you are contacted for a survey, and do not wish to answer the questions, you have all the right to say, I decline to make a comment.”

Meanwhile, the FEO has received 167, 137 queries via their 1500 platform since it was launched in February this year.