CITIZENS should be allowed to vote from any location in the country, not just the polling station where they are registered.

This was the suggestion from Serua native Seru Batibasaga during the Fiji Law Reform Commission’s public consultation on electoral law review in Navua last week.

Speaking from his personal experience during the 2022 General Election, Mr Batibasaga said he was working in Lautoka at the time, near a polling station, but was told he could not vote there because he was registered in Navua.

“It was a painful experience,” he said.

“I wanted to contribute to my country and people by voting, but I was denied that opportunity.”

Mr Batibasaga said there was a need to make voting easier and more accessible for all Fijians, regardless of where they are on election day.

“How can we build a nation of unity if we don’t allow every sector of society, Rotuman, iTaukei, Indo-Fijian, Rabi Islander, or Kaiviti, to have their say and exercise their right?”

Under Fiji’s current electoral laws, voters are required to cast their ballots at the specific polling station where they are registered.

This requirement is outlined in the Electoral Act 2014, which governs the conduct of elections in Fiji.

The Act stipulates that each voter must vote at the polling station assigned to them based on their registration details.

However, there are provisions for certain individuals who may be unable to vote at their assigned polling stations such as police officers and the like.