Beware of Fake News, Misinformation, Nand Tells Poll Presiding Officers
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is training more than 7000 participants as Presiding Officers and out of that number, only 2000 would be selected based on merit as there would be only 2000 polling stations scattered around the country.
Wednesday 20 April 2022 | 14:13
Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem speaking during the launch of the Presiding Officers training for the 2022 General Election at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka on April 19, 2022. Photo: Nicolette Chambers
Do not be influenced by fake news and misinformation. This is what those who were training to be Presiding Officers of the upcoming General Election were told.
The Electoral Commission chairperson, Mukesh Nand made this clear during the launch of the Presiding Officers training for the 2022 General Election at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka yesterday.
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is training more than 7000 participants as Presiding Officers and out of that number, only 2000 would be selected based on merit as there would be only 2000 polling stations scattered around the country.
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Mr Nand highlighted that the presiding officers would be the most senior FEO official on the ground in charge of the polling areas.
“You must not be easily influenced by outside sources such as social media, fake news, misinformation or disinformation, which you always may often come across until the election,” Mr Nand said.
“On the topic of fake news and misinformation in the recently launched pre-election voter survey by the FEO, of the 9292 responses, 62 per cent we have noticed had spread fake news on social media websites, while 38 per cent did not.
“The majority of the persons had suggested that they had come across fake news, misinformation on FB with FB being the widely used social network in Fiji.
“It is imperative that every employee of the FEO demonstrate a greater level of responsibility and online behaviour.”
He urged all participants to play their part in preparation for the 2022 General Election.
Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem also spoke to the Presiding Officers and said: “Do not be swayed by somebody who is Johnny-come-off-the-park and says ‘oh, you need to have ballot boxes put upside down’,” he said.
“Do not be swayed by the newspaper front page of the next day that says the ballot boxes will be placed on top of a table.
“Those things have already been thought through. We are not the only country that does elections this way.”
The training is expected to conclude on May 26.
