The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) initiative to register Fijians living in Pacific Island nations has been highly appreciated.

Cook Islands Fijian Association member Kara Lomaiviti said the FEOs recent visit to the Cook Islands was positive. It showed that the Government was serious about including Fijians living in other parts of the world to be part of the next general election.

Ms Lomaiviti said Fijians in the Cook Islands were already looking forward to registering with FEO.

According to Cook Islands News, officials from FEO visiting were pleased with the response.

With a population of around 300 Fijians living in the Cook Islands, FEO ended the registration drive with a total of 174 new registrations and 102 amendments to voter cards.

Fijian Elections Office operations assistant Mereseini Vosa hailed the voter registration drive in the Cook Islands a success.

The team then headed to Niue to register eligible Fijians living there.

Five registration teams from Fiji have been registering eligible Fijians across other Pacific island countries such as Niue, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

In Tonga, citizens residing in Tonga made the most out of the Pacific Islands Voter Registration Drive.

Tonga’s visit ended with a total of 131 new registrations, 25 amendments to the Electronic Voter Registration cards and six replacements.

Kiribati had 27 new registrations, 10 amendments and six replacements.

The elections drive to Pacific Islands began on March 17 and the team was in American Samoa, from March 28 to yesterday.

Under the Fijian Constitution and Electoral Act 2012, every Fijian aged 18 or more is eligible to register and vote.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  losirene.lacanivalu@fijisun.com.fj