Somosomo villagers raise questions at public consultation; suggest increase in ballot paper font size

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Somosomo.villagers with members of parliament after the meeting in Somosomo Village last night. Picture: SERAFINA SILAITOGA

Somosomo villagers in Taveuni had raised many questions during last night’s consultation with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights about whether their consultation was part of campaigning for the 2022 polls.

Villagers also shared their observations of the last General Election, among which was their suggestion to increase the font sizes on ballot papers to make it readable, particularly to the elderly.

A former campaign manager of past political parties Temesio Seniloli told the committee that the first past the post system was fair and better than the current system, which included the 5 per cent threshold.

Speaking in the iTaukei language, Mr Seniloli said the old system was fair because those who won more votes got into Parliament compared to today’s system.

Committee chairman Alvick Maharaj explained both systems worked similarly.

“Take for example two voting venues and one has about 150,000 votes and needed 75,000 to win, while the other about 10,000 and needed 5000 votes to win,” Mr Maharaj said.

“Obviously, the one with more voters from the 150,000 area will get more than the other from the 10,000 votes because of population but they’ve won from their voting areas.”

The consultation is on the Electoral Amendment Bill 2020, Electoral Registration of Voters Amendment Bill 2020 and the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2020 is being held in Taveuni.

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