The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is committed to conducting all necessary external audits ahead of the next general election, assuring both the public and stakeholders of its dedication to transparency and integrity in the electoral process. Ana Mataiciwa, the Supervisor of Elections, announced during a Parliamentary Standing Committee session that while audits for both the National Register of Voters and the mobile application used for election results are pending, steps are being taken to complete them.
Mataiciwa highlighted that currently, there is no external audit completed on the register of voters. However, acknowledging their commitment from the Electoral Commission’s joint report, she confirmed that efforts to identify an appropriate auditor are underway. The Multinational Observer Group recommended this action following the 2018 General Election to enhance the credibility of Fiji’s electoral system.
Concerns were raised by opposition MP Faiyaz Koya regarding whether the 2022 General Election results app had undergone an external audit, especially following the technical issues experienced during the elections. Mataiciwa reassured that the glitch was confined to the app interface and did not affect the core results system, emphasizing plans to audit the app to prevent future issues.
The 2022 elections highlighted technical challenges, particularly the app’s malfunction that caused vote tally discrepancies, which have since led to initiatives aimed at system improvements. New quality assurance measures and a media center for transparent dissemination of election results underline the ongoing commitment to rectify past errors.
These initiatives are integral to restoring public trust and reinforcing democratic processes as Fiji approaches its upcoming elections. By implementing these proactive transparency measures, Fiji aims to ensure a more reliable and confident electoral framework. The commitment to addressing previous challenges by learning from the past indicates a promising direction for maintaining the integrity of democratic practices in the country.