Voter turnout in Fiji declined from 84% in 2014 to just 68% in the 2022 General Election, prompting the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) to roll out a comprehensive three-phase voter awareness strategy, according to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights that was tabled in Parliament last week.
The EC and the FEO told the Committee while multiple factors influence voter turnout across all electoral systems globally, the FEO has identified that enhancing citizen confidence and knowledge through comprehensive voter education represents one of the most impactful interventions within its control.
Phase 1 focuses on enhanced media presence, with efforts to diversify social media platforms, introduce an animated ballot box mascot to engage youth, and strengthen mainstream media partnerships for wider reach.
Phase 2 targets education and training. This includes the proposed School Elections Toolkit (SET) Programme, still awaiting Cabinet and Ministry of Education approval, which aims to guide all 176 high schools in conducting student elections using online resources. A review of Year 10 Social Science curriculum is also underway to improve the delivery of electoral content.
Phase 3 centres on grassroots engagement, leveraging the Community Election Advocates Programme, which trains local champions to facilitate two-way voter education. Partnerships will extend to faith-based groups, NGOs, student bodies, media, and municipal councils.
This integrated campaign represents a strategic shift from passive information-sharing to active, inclusive voter engagement.
The EC and FEP stressed that “ensuring every eligible Fijian has the knowledge, confidence, and support needed for meaningful democratic participation” is vital to reversing the decline in turnout.
