THOSE who have been diagnosed to be mentally unstable and are listed in the Health Ministry register do not have the right to vote during the election, says Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem.
Mr Saneem said the Electoral (registration of voters) Act of 2012 Section 3 (2) (b) stated that any person who, during the registration period, was, under a law in force in Fiji, adjudged or declared to have a mental disorder, shall not have the right to be or shall cease to have the right to be registered as a voter.
“The FEO removes persons who are currently on the list under the Mental Health Act,” Mr Saneem said.
“As and when such time appears when they are no longer on the list, they are entitled to register and participate in the elections.
“The FEO purely follows the law and in the event changes are being sought to the law, necessary applications must be made to the Parliament.”
Mr Saneem said in the case of persons who were previously declared to have had a mental disorder, but had since been treated and declared to be of sound mind must ensure that their name was removed from the Ministry of Health register of persons declared to have a mental disorder.
“Similar provisions existed under 1998 Electoral Act under Section 26 (1) (d) (iv), which stated that in addition to any other powers of alteration conferred by this Act or the regulations, the supervisor may revise the electoral roll for any constituency by removing from the roll the name of any person whom the supervisor has been notified pursuant to the regulations or whom the supervisor otherwise has good reason to believe has been adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind under any law in force in the country.”
