The Electoral (Local Government Elections) Regulations 2025 impose strict controls on campaign financing, media use and disclosures, significantly increasing accountability for candidates and political parties contesting local government elections.
During the campaign period, any paid political advertisement in print or broadcast media must clearly state that it is a paid political advertisement and identify who authorised and paid for it. These advertisements must also comply with broader prohibitions on hate speech, racial or religious vilification and incitement to violence.
The Regulations empower the Electoral Commission to issue binding guidelines on election campaign–related activities, including debates, public forums, interviews, training programs and publications connected to elections. Before adopting these guidelines, the commission must consult with the Supervisor of Elections.
Special attention is given to foreign involvement. The guidelines must address whether and how foreign persons, organisations, or entities receiving foreign funding may participate in campaign-related activities. Any organiser of such activities must comply fully with the commission’s guidelines, and the supervisor may order the correction or removal of content that breaches them. Appeals against the supervisor’s decisions may be lodged with the Electoral Commission, whose ruling is final.
On campaign financing, all candidates are required to maintain detailed and accurate records of election income and expenditure. These records must include the sources of funds, details of donations and indirect contributions, and all campaign-related transactions. Interfering with or destroying these records is a criminal offence.
Campaign funds may only come from lawful sources, excluding foreign governments and international organisations. Within 60 days of polling, every candidate – successful or not – must submit a statutory declaration of campaign income, donations and expenditure. The supervisor must publish this information on the Fijian Elections Office website.
