Only Name On Birth Certificate for Voter Card Registration Upgrade, says Saneem
he Fijian Elections Office will only be recording the name that is on the birth certificate of a person on the voter registration card as it gears up to the 2022 General Election.
This was the affirmation made by Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem in a meeting with political parties on Thursday.
Mr Saneem said it was now law that any person would have to produce a birth certificate while having to upgrade their voter registration card.
He also said that the green voter registration card issued in the 2014 General Election has now expired and everyone would need to upgrade to the blue voter card.
“When this person will come for the upgrade to the blue coloured voter card, according to the law that person will be required to produce a birth certificate,” he said.
“We will be recording the name that is on the birth certificate of the person on the voter card.
“If the person wishes to use a name that is not on the birth certificate then the person will be required to first amend the name on the birth certificate following the process on the birth, deaths and marriages registry.
“You don’t need to prepare a deed poll or a legal document from a lawyer, we will be able to provide you with a form and that form can be either through the Fijian Elections Office, submitted to the births, deaths and marriages registry or the person can simply do it themselves.
“Once the birth certificate is amended to reflect the new name, the person will be then able to obtain a voter registration card.”
No one removed from the roll
Mr Saneem said once a person is registered, they are not removed from the voter roll.
“So you do not lose your right to vote.
“If you are registered on the voter roll with a particular detail that you have already submitted, if you turn up in the polling venue during the day of elections, provided you turn up to the right polling venue, you will still be able to vote.
“You are not removed from the voter roll, you are only required to update and correct your voter identification card.”