The Fijian Elections Office has commenced the destruction of the 2022 General Election ballot papers, marking a significant milestone in the country’s electoral process.
Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa confirmed that the destruction of the sensitive materials also signifies the conclusion of the last election.
Mataiciwa says this step marks a new phase as the Elections Office begins preparations for the 2026 General Election.
She says a total of 2,066 ballot boxes containing the papers have been stored, and the process of destruction is expected to take five weeks.
The Supervisor of Elections says to ensure transparency and security, each destruction station is monitored by a police officer and a quality assurance representative from the Elections Office.
She says the process will include environmentally-friendly disposal methods such as recycling and incineration.
Mataiciwa further says that the Elections Office has also invited registered political parties to observe the destruction process.
She says with the completion of this task, the Elections Office will gain much-needed storage space, enabling them to better prepare for future elections.
Mataiciwa adds they have already begun assessing potential polling venues and engaging with communities to seek assistance for the upcoming elections.
