The Supervisor of Elections (SoE), Ms Ana Mataiciwa, today met with stakeholders from Civil Society and Faith-Based Organisations, alongside media representatives, at the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) to provide updates on preparations for Fiji’s upcoming General Election and the Proposed National Referendum 2026.
During her briefing, the SoE outlined the possible electoral timelines, with the Writ of Election period expected to fall between 24 June and 24 December 2026, while the upcoming General Election timeframe is projected to run from 07 August 2026 to 06 February 2027, in accordance with Fiji’s electoral laws.
She also presented the Electoral Management Body’s (EMB) budget breakdown for 2026–2027, outlining an operational budget of $23,242,547 for the FEO and $556,988 for the Electoral Commission (EC). The Election Day budget of $14,815,437 was also presented, including the $20 million allocation towards preparations for the Proposed National Referendum 2026.
Official voter registration stood at 723,771 as of 30 June 2026, with a further 2,718 registrations recorded during the first week of the Your Election, Your Say Phase II initiative. Awareness sessions have also commenced across the Central, Western, Northern, and Eastern Divisions, with 2,377 participants motivated to vote in the upcoming General Election, out of a total of 3,465 participants reached.
Operational planning continues, together with the identification of provisional polling venues and the recruitment and training of Election Officials (EOs). By 09 October 2026, the FEO had recruited 15,088 EOs against a requirement of 8,907, of whom 4,072 had completed training.
A total of 1,508 provisional polling venues have been identified nationwide, comprising 880 Election Day venues and 628 pre-poll venues. Preparations for essential election materials are also progressing, with 3,150 ballot boxes ready for use. The FEO has received 2,486 polling kits from its vendor and 2,500 voting screens donated by New Zealand. An order for 6,000 units of indelible ink has also been placed.
The Proposed National Referendum 2026 was a key focus of the briefing, with the expected polling date set for Wednesday, 09 December 2026. Postal Voting applications have also been open since 03 October 2026, providing the opportunity for eligible voters to apply to vote by post.
Preparations for the referendum are being carried out in accordance with the National Referendum Act 2026 and applicable provisions of the Electoral Act 2014.
Stakeholders also received updates on recent amendments to the Electoral Act 2014, the Political Parties Act 2013 and the Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012. Said amendments cover electoral offences and penalties, campaign spending, postal voting, recounts, candidate eligibility and voter registration.
Engagements with both stakeholders and media representatives provide an important platform to share electoral updates, strengthen understanding of the processes involved, and promote informed public participation.
The FEO remains focused on voter awareness and operational readiness, while working with stakeholders, to ensure eligible Fijians have the information they need to participate in the Proposed National Referendum 2026 and the upcoming General Election.
