THE Fijian Elections Office (FEO) says registered voters can use any identification card (ID) to vote.
However, voters have to ensure they turn up at the correct polling station. On its official Facebook page, the FEO stated any individual who was already registered would not be restricted from voting.
The FEO made the statement while responding to a voter who wanted to know whether he could use his old voting card (which does not identify a voter’s polling station).
“You can vote with any ID provided you turn up to the correct polling station,” the FEO stated.
“The new cards list your polling venue on the card so you do not have to trouble yourself locating it.
All the voting information is present on your voter card (referring to the new blue card).”
When asked on February 19 to elaborate on the FEO’s statement on Facebook, Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem declined.
In an article in this newspaper on February 14, former supervisor of elections Jon Apted said although the Electoral Act provided for IDs as the primary means of identifying a voter at a polling station, it did not make it mandatory to produce a Voter ID to vote.
Mr Apted said presiding officers were empowered to accept other forms of ID.
Mr Apted’s comments came in the wake of huge public outcry over a statement issued by Mr Saneem that Fijians would have to present their birth certificates to obtain replacement voter cards, report loss of cards or for new registration.
Mr Saneem said the requirement was designed to improve verification of identity.
During a press conference earlier this month, he said the Voter ID card 0.1 (green card) would expire on June 1.
