POSTAL voting applications for the proposed National Referendum 2026 have opened even though the writ for the December 9 referendum has not yet been issued.
The Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office said the move was lawful and necessary to allow eligible voters to apply in advance, but stressed that it did not mean the referendum had formally been called.
“The opening of postal voting applications does not amount to the issuance of the Writ for the National Referendum 2026,” the two bodies said.
The process is being conducted under the Electoral Act 2014 and National Referendum Act 2026, which allows provisions governing postal voting to apply to a referendum.
Eligible voters can apply if they expect to be outside Fiji, far from their assigned polling station, unavailable because of work or family commitments, or for other lawful reasons.
The EC and FEO said opening applications early would allow the Fijian Elections Office to identify and process eligible voters and prepare appropriate voting arrangements if the writ is issued.
However, the process could be stopped if Parliament rejects the Constitution Amendment Bill at its third reading.
“If the Constitution Amendment Bill is defeated at the third reading in Parliament and the writ is not issued, the Electoral Commission will announce the closure of the postal voting application process and will cease all preparations and processes for the announced National Referendum 2026.”
The bodies said voters who had applied for postal voting would not receive ballot papers if the writ was not issued.
They urged Fijians to familiarise themselves with the National Referendum Act and relevant Electoral Act provisions and obtain information from official EC and FEO platforms.
