Notary fees impact postal voting

Fijians residing overseas face significant obstacles in casting their postal votes due to exorbitant notary public fees, which can range from $157 to $468. Penioni Ravunawa, a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, voiced concerns that these costs effectively disenfranchise eligible citizens, preventing them from exercising their democratic rights.

The issue surfaced during the presentation of the Fiji Electoral Commission’s 2023–2024 Annual Report. Lawmakers questioned the accessibility of the postal ballot system, particularly for Fijian scheme workers abroad. This concern is amplified by a noticeable decline in voter turnout, which has dropped from 84 percent in 2014 to approximately 68 percent in the last general election.

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These are particularly for youth, and around 68% in the last general election. Young people appear to be increasingly disengaged with our electoral process.

Ravunawa urged the Electoral Commission to explore methods for enhancing electoral participation, especially among young people who appear increasingly disengaged from the electoral process. In response, Electoral Commission Chair Usaia Ratuvili outlined the commission's YES initiative, designed to raise awareness and improve engagement.

Ratuvili also proposed a potential solution: modifying the voting form to include a warning for false statements and a declaration of truthfulness. He suggested that if this change is accepted, it could eliminate the need for a notary public or commissioner to witness the document, thereby reducing costs and improving accessibility for overseas voters.

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We’re trying to we’re raising with the minister responsible for elections in terms of the form itself should give a warning if you’re going to give a false statement and have a declaration at the end saying I declare that what I put here is true so if that is accepted then that will dispense with the need for a notary public or commissioner for us to witness the document.