The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is actively ensuring preparedness for the upcoming general election by prioritizing transparency and integrity through conducting essential external audits. During a session with the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa announced ongoing efforts to complete audits for both the National Register of Voters and the mobile application used for election results. Although these audits are yet to be finalized, the FEO is in the process of selecting an appropriate auditor, as recommended by the Multinational Observer Group after the 2018 General Election, to bolster the credibility of the electoral system in Fiji.
Concerns regarding the audit of the 2022 General Election results app were raised by opposition MP Faiyaz Koya, particularly after the technical issues that emerged during the elections. Mataiciwa addressed these concerns by reaffirming that the technical glitch only affected the app interface and not the core results system. Plans to audit the app are in place to avoid recurrence of such issues.
The 2022 elections were marred by technical setbacks, notably app malfunctions that led to discrepancies in vote tallies. In response, the FEO has introduced new quality assurance measures and established a media center for transparent dissemination of election results as part of efforts to rectify past errors. These initiatives are pivotal in restoring public trust and strengthening democratic processes in anticipation of the upcoming elections.
By implementing these proactive measures, Fiji is set on ensuring a more robust and trustworthy electoral framework. The commitment to addressing previous challenges demonstrates a positive step towards maintaining the integrity of democratic practices in the country.