More than 360 local and foreign journalists have been registered and accredited to report on this year’s General Election, says Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) chairperson Ashwin Raj yesterday.

“As you all know this is a very significant historical event for Fiji. We are absolutely delighted to have the local and as well as the international media present to report and cover the election,” Mr Raj said.

In total registration and accreditation lists the total number of journalists at 367.

“One thing we would like to specifically address this afternoon is, of course, the fact that we are going to approach the blackout period.

“There are certain rules which are in place pursuant to the Election Law that we want the media to take full consideration of.”

Mr Raj said it was important that everyone followed the 48-hour blackout period.

“One thing we would like to specifically address this afternoon is of course fact that we are going to approach the blackout period and there are certain rules which are in place pursuant to the Election Law that we want the media to take full consideration of,” he said.

“It is under the Section 63 of the Electoral Act, section 110 and also particularly section 118.

“The Supervisor of Election and I wish to implore the importance of taking full consideration of these provisions under the Act.

“The intention of the blackout period is to provide you with the fact that the locals in the country need to cast their vote without any due influence.

“So, the 48-hour blackout period is very significant so that there is no pressure or influence so that people can freely cast their vote.

“I want to inform everybody that the 48-hour blackout is not an exception to Fiji because there are other constitutional democracies that have the 48-hour rule in place.”

Meanwhile, pre-poll voting ends today.

Pre-poll voting ‘on track’

The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) says it is “on track” to complete pre-poll voting at all locations around the country “by the end of the prescribed timeline”.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said in a statement yesterday that there were only 35 venues where pre-polling remained to be completed.

The total number of voters expected to cast their ballots votes in the final day of Pre-Polling today is 502.

Pre-Poll voting for the 2018 General Election in the Central Division, Northern Division and Eastern Division will end today, with the last polling venue to close at 8pm.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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