Ilaitia Tamanilatui of Wailevu Village outside Labasa echoed the sentiments of the majority of voters in the North when he said: “It is time to vote for democracy because it has been so long since Fiji had a general election.

“The day has finally come; we were all waiting on this day so that we can cast our vote for a new democratic government,” he said.

Meanwhile first-timer voter Paula Bukavece said: “The voting process were very simple and it was quite easy to understand and the officers were very helpful.”

At Bucalevu polling station, presiding officer Shabnam Nisha said voting was very smooth and good.

“Most people who came in to vote today, especially the young people, understood what were required to be done” Ms Nisha said.

She said they assisted the elderly and the handicapped to cast their votes.

Bucalevu voter Riteshni Devi said voting was really easy and simple.

“I did not have any problem at all, I just walked in cast my vote and walked out again in minutes,” Ms Devi said.

At Saint Augustine’s Primary School in Wailevu, one of the presiding officers, Pene Albert, said people were still walking in to cast their votes.

“In the morning the polling station was jam-packed and at my station alone more than 300 voters have cast their votes,” Mr Albert said.

“So far more than 1000 people have cast their votes at the school,” he said.

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