Polling official interferes with voting

[posted 11 May 2006 1630]

A polling official at the Makoi Methodist Primary School on Wednesday 10 May checked a ballot paper after it had been voted with and before it was cast.

He realised the voter had voted wrongly. The voter had ticked above the line as well below the line for the SDL, making the vote invalid.

The official told the voter to ask for another ballot paper and to vote again.

The incident was noted by a polling agent for the Fiji Labour Party who drew it to the attention of the officer who merely asked the official not to do that again.

FLP wonders how often this is happening at polling stations. Clearly the action of the polling official was in violation of the Electoral and unethical.

Complaints have been lodged with the Supervisor of Elections and the Electoral Commission.