Electoral Commission proposes major voting reforms

Fiji's electoral system could undergo its biggest transformation in more than a decade under a series of reforms proposed by the Electoral Commission.

The commission is recommending a mixed voting model, a lower threshold for parliamentary representation and the return of constituency-based representation.

Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Usaia Ratuvili presented the Commission's submission to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) yesterday.

He said the recommendations build on the work of the Electoral Law Reform Commission and are intended to strengthen representation while maintaining a proportional Parliament.

Among the key proposals is replacing the nationwide constituency with a mixed electoral system that would allow every voter to elect a local Member of Parliament while preserving proportional representation.

Justice Ratuvili said the commission also supported reducing the current five per cent threshold required for political parties to enter Parliament, arguing that the existing system sidelined many voters who support smaller parties.

The submission also recommends re-establishing an independent Constituency Boundaries Commission with constitutional status if constituency-based elections are adopted.

Electoral boundaries

Justice Ratuvili said electoral boundaries should be determined by an independent body rather than the election management authority.

The commission also proposed removing constitutional provisions that disqualify serving prisoners from voting and replacing outdated references to "unsound mind" with language consistent with Fiji's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It also recommended retaining voluntary voting.

To improve electoral certainty, the commission proposed that major changes to election laws should not take effect during an election year and suggested narrowing the timeframe for announcing general elections.

Justice Ratuvili said the Constitution gave the Executive broad discretion over when elections were held, creating uncertainty for political parties preparing their campaigns.

The submission also recommends merging the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office into a single independent electoral management body governed by a five-member board serving staggered five-year terms.

Proposed reforms

The proposed reforms also separate the role of Registrar of Political Parties from the chief executive to avoid conflicts of interest during appeals.

Justice Ratuvili said constitutional questions such as term limits, the retirement age for public office holders, the possible return of an Upper House and caretaker government arrangements should ultimately be determined by the CRC and Parliament.