The Electoral Commission will conduct a barrel ball draw today to determine the first three-digit number to be allocated to candidates for the next General Election.
The draw will take place at 9am at the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) headquarters in Suva, in the presence of invited stakeholders and members of the media.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Usaia Ratuvili and Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa will hold a press conference following the draw.
Under Section 36(1)(c) of the Electoral Act 2014, the Supervisor of Elections is required to prepare the National Candidates List, with candidates’ positions determined through a barrel ball draw.
The Electoral Commission is responsible for determining the first three-digit number from which candidate numbering will begin.
According to the Commission’s procedures, balls numbered from zero to nine will be placed in a barrel, with a blindfolded participant drawing the numbers.
Each digit will be displayed after being drawn, and the ball returned to the barrel before the next draw.
To avoid using numbers allocated during the previous election, the Commission will first determine the hundred series from which candidate numbers will begin.
The remaining two digits will then be determined through the ball draw, with adjustments made where necessary to avoid previously allocated numbers.
The Commission has also directed the Supervisor of Elections not to allocate the number 666 to any candidate out of respect for religious considerations.
The National Candidates List must be prepared within seven days of the close of nominations and will include the three-digit number assigned to each candidate.
These numbers will subsequently appear on the ballot paper.
Today’s draw will establish the starting number for the candidate allocation process ahead of the next General Election.
