![Commission Chairman, Suresh Chandra. [Image: File Photo]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/656225298612868435638c6cf5b4c6.jpg)
The Electoral Commission has welcomed the announcement by the Attorney General and the Minister responsible for Elections that the Government is now considering amending the Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012 as well as other consequent legislation to ensure the registration in the National Register of Voters is done based on records that are maintained officially at other agencies of Government.
The Electoral Commission says it recognizes that the right to free and fair elections guaranteed under the Fijian Constitution cannot be properly executed until and unless the Voter List that is to be used in the national election is free from error, and the same can be verified against other relevant documents and official sources.
Commission Chairman, Suresh Chandra says to this end the Electoral Commission has always supported the Fijian Elections Office in its endeavor to match and verify details of voters against other registries in Fiji.
Chandra says they understand that the Court in a recent judgement has made findings which allows registration of individuals with details that may not be found directly from official sources.
He says whilst they respect the decision of the Court, the Electoral Commission as the institution that is responsible for the conduct of a free and fair election in accordance with the laws of Fiji, is also concerned that the same might set a precedent where people may enroll themselves in the National Register using pseudo names and names that they are not able to verify.
Chandra says this may result in issues on Election Day where the names may not be found and may also result in abuse of the voter card as a universal ID when people apply for financial services and government services.
The Electoral Commission is concerned about the paramount credibility of the voter register and as such the Commission welcomes and supports the current efforts by government to amend the electoral legislation to ensure that the voter list remains accurate, complete and verifiable.
