The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Usaia Ratuvili, and the Supervisor of Elections, Ms Ana Mataiciwa, represented Fiji at the 2026 Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), held from 6 to 9 October 2026 in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Hosted by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, the meeting brought together senior electoral officials from across the Pacific region to strengthen regional cooperation, exchange experiences and discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in electoral administration.
The meeting provided an important platform for electoral management bodies to share developments within their respective jurisdictions, explore approaches to strengthening electoral integrity and identify opportunities for continued collaboration.
Discussions focused on key electoral issues, including increasing voter turnout, engaging young voters, threats to electoral integrity, alternative voting methods, business continuity and crisis management, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in election administration.
Fiji’s Contribution to Regional Electoral Discussions
As part of the programme, Supervisor of Elections Ms Ana Mataiciwa was designated to lead a session on Out of Country Voting and Legislative Frameworks, providing an opportunity to share Fiji’s experience and approaches to electoral services for eligible voters residing overseas.
The session was particularly relevant to the Fijian Elections Office’s ongoing overseas voter awareness and registration initiatives, which seek to ensure eligible Fijians living abroad have access to electoral information and services.
The participation of Justice Ratuvili and Ms Mataiciwa also provided an opportunity to engage with regional electoral counterparts on matters of mutual interest, including preparations for electoral events, institutional readiness and approaches to promoting public confidence in electoral processes.
Their participation comes at an important time for Fiji, as the Fijian Elections Office continues preparations for the upcoming General Election and the National Referendum scheduled for 9 December 2026.
Strengthening Regional Electoral Cooperation
The meeting also included discussions on the future priorities of the PIANZEA Network and nominations for the next two-year term of the PIANZEA Advisory Group, which supports the Network through regional consultation and strategic guidance.
The final day featured presentations from development partners, including International IDEA, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), covering artificial intelligence, practical applications for electoral management bodies and electoral knowledge products.
The participation of Fiji’s senior electoral leadership reflects the continued commitment of the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office to regional cooperation, professional development and the exchange of electoral knowledge and best practices.
Through its engagement with PIANZEA, Fiji continues to contribute to regional dialogue and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening credible, transparent, inclusive and professionally administered elections across the Pacific.
