The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) has outlined a $14.8 million Election Day budget as preparations continue for Fiji’s upcoming General Election.
Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa presented the budget during a stakeholder briefing with civil society organisations, faith-based groups and media representatives at the FEO.
The Election Day budget stands at $14,815,437, while the FEO’s operational budget for the 2026–2027 financial year is $23,242,547.
A further $556,988 has been allocated for the Electoral Commission.
Ms Mataiciwa also outlined a $20 million allocation towards preparations for the proposed 2026 National Referendum.
During the briefing, she provided an update on the possible electoral timelines, with the period for issuing the Writ of Election falling between June 24 and December 24, 2026.
The General Election window runs from August 7, 2026, to February 6, 2027, in accordance with Fiji’s electoral laws.
Official voter registration stood at 723,771 as of June 30, 2026, with another 2,718 registrations recorded during the first week of the Your Election, Your Say Phase II initiative.
Voter awareness sessions have also commenced across the Central, Western, Northern and Eastern Divisions.
The FEO reported that 3,465 people had participated in these sessions, with 2,377 expressing motivation to vote in the upcoming election.
Meanwhile, recruitment of election officials has exceeded the FEO’s initial requirements.
As of October 9, the office had recruited 15,088 election officials against a requirement of 8,907.
Of those recruited, 4,072 had completed training.
The FEO has also identified 1,508 provisional polling venues nationwide, comprising 880 Election Day venues and 628 pre-poll venues.
Preparations for election materials are progressing, with 3,150 ballot boxes ready for use.
The office has received 2,486 polling kits from its supplier and 2,500 voting screens donated by New Zealand.
An order for 6,000 units of indelible ink has also been placed.
The FEO said operational planning, recruitment, training and voter awareness activities would continue as the country prepares for the General Election and proposed referendum.
