'Voting in India is like a national festival': India's envoy says Fiji can learn from India's election culture
This comes as official data shows voter turnout here in Fiji has fallen steadily over the past three general elections.
Sunday 09 August 2026 | 10:00
The Justice Ministry permanent secretary, Selina Kuruleca, His Excellency, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Fiji Shri Suneet Mehta, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Republic of Fiji, Justice Usaia Ratuvuli, Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa on August 7, 2026.
Photo: FEO
India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Shri Suneet Mehta, says India’s election culture where voting is treated as a “national festival” could offer lessons for Fiji.
This comes as official data shows voter turnout here in Fiji has fallen steadily over the past three general elections.
“When the elections happen in India, it’s like a national festival,” Mr Mehta said, describing how Indian voters mark their fingers with indelible ink after casting ballots and post about it on social media to encourage others to vote.
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“It’s like saying to your friends... hey, I voted, now it’s your turn to come out and vote.”
More than 968 million voters were eligible in India’s 2024 General Election, the largest democratic exercise in the world, with turnout climbing “with each successive election”.
By contrast, Fiji’s voter turnout has dropped from 84 per cent in 2014 to 68 per cent in 2022 — a 16-percentage-point decline over eight years.
The statistics were reported by Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa, who briefed the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights last year.
Ms Mataiciwa said many young voters studying away from home could not vote because their polling stations remained registered at their home addresses, particularly for students from the Northern Division, but based in Viti Levu.
She also cited inappropriate awareness materials, with English-language resources distributed in rural areas where local languages were preferred.
FEO has since adopted a threephase strategy targeting media presence, civic education in schools, and grassroots engagement through election advocates, ahead of the next General Election, due between June 24, 2026 and February 6, 2027.
