New Zealand Gifts 15,015 Vote Screens
Alicia Wright hands over cardboard voting screens to the Fijian Elections Office yesterday.
New Zealand’s chief electoral officer for the Electoral Commission, Alicia Wright, yesterday handed over cardboard voting screens to the Fijian Elections Office.
Fijian Electoral Commission chairperson Suresh Chandra said he had already received 15,015 voting screens properly packed in boxes and protective plastic.
“Each polling station will receive one box which is made up of four pizza boxes and one disability friendly voting screen,” he said. “There have been a few tweaks to the cardboard screens to prepare for a wet environment.
“We have a proper sustainability plan for them as well so we can use the same for future elections.” Mr Chandra said the polling station set-up in the 2018 General Election would be the same as for the 2014 General Election.
“We are sure voters will find greater comfort in exercising their right,” he said.
“We want the 2018 General Election to be a platform for Fijians to express their will with confidence, security and freedom.
“We are confident that the support we have received from New Zealand will greatly contribute towards realising our goals.
In 2014, New Zealand also provided these cardboard voting screens.”
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said that was the first time in Fiji, Fijians voted in an open and conducive environment rather than tall wooden triangular structures covered behind curtains.
“To assist with the 2018 General Election, we asked if the New Zealand Electoral Commission could once again assist us with the Cardboard Voting Screens and they humbly agreed,” Mr Saneem said.
“I would like to thank the New Zealand Government for its interest in developing electoral capacity in Fiji. “The support programme has indeed been positive for both our countries and the team here at the FEO.”