The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is from today hosting a three-day Election Security Advisory Group (ESAG) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Validation Workshop as part of its preparations for the upcoming General Election.
The workshop, held at the Novotel in Lami from 1 to 3 September 2026, brings together representatives from the FEO, Fiji Police Force, Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and facilitators from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office.
The three-day engagement will focus on reviewing, discussing and finalising the ESAG SOP, which will guide the coordination of election security operations for the upcoming General Election.
Opening the workshop this morning, Supervisor of Elections Ms Ana Mataiciwa said preparations for the General Election extend beyond the mechanics of conducting an election and include ensuring an environment in which every Fijian can exercise their right to vote freely and safely.
“As we prepare for the upcoming General Election, our responsibility is not simply to prepare the mechanics of an election. We must also ensure that the environment in which the election takes place is safe, secure, orderly and conducive to the free exercise of every Fijian’s right to vote,” said Ms Mataiciwa.
Ms Mataiciwa said while each institution has its own mandate and responsibilities, effective coordination becomes particularly important where those responsibilities intersect during an election.
She said the workshop provides an opportunity for participating agencies to establish a common understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities, strengthen communication protocols and agree on practical arrangements for managing and responding to incidents.
The Supervisor of Elections also encouraged participants to critically examine the proposed SOP over the three-days and ensure that the arrangements developed are practical and can be effectively implemented when required.
“A good SOP sitting on a shelf will not secure an election. What matters is whether the people responsible for implementing it understand it, trust it and can apply it when required,” said Ms Mataicwa.
The workshop is expected to produce a final ESAG SOP, agreed communication protocols and an action plan, providing participating agencies with clear arrangements for coordination ahead of the General Election.
Ms Mataiciwa said election security ultimately contributes to the wider objective of maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
“Fijians must have confidence that they can participate in their election freely and safely. Political parties, candidates and other stakeholders must have confidence that electoral activities can take place in an orderly environment,” said Ms Mataiciwa.
The workshop concludes on Thursday, 3 September 2026, following which agreed amendments will be incorporated into the ESAG SOP before it is submitted for final approval.
