Fiji could soon see a high-tech transformation in its electoral process through a new partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Japan’s Ministry of Justice.
Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga told Parliament last week that a Memorandum of Cooperation had been signed to explore modern electoral solutions, with a focus on secure, accessible digital voting.
“As honourable members will appreciate, the conduct of a free, fair and credible election is the cornerstone of any democracy,” Mr Turaga said.
“The potential for digital innovation to enhance transparency, participation and efficiency within our electoral process must be seriously explored.”
At the centre of discussions is the Coursera digital voting system, which offers biometric voter verification, encrypted end-to-end voting, real-time results transmission, remote voting for citizens abroad, and a fully auditable digital paper trail.
According to Mr Turaga, Coursera’s system was successfully tested in December 2024 during a local city election, delivering accurate results within an hour of polls closing.
“Digital voting is not about replacing democracy,” he stressed.
“It is about strengthening it and ensuring that every eligible Fijian has the opportunity to participate in shaping our future, no matter where they live or what barriers they may face.”
The Minister confirmed he will hold consultations with the Fijian Elections Office, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Communication, and other stakeholders to assess the feasibility of adopting such technologies in Fiji’s elections.