The ELECTORAL DECREE 2014 (DECREE NO. 11 OF 2014) is finally out, suggesting that voting will be a nightmare for voters.

There will be one national constituency to elect 50 parliamentarians in a proportional system, based on “Open Lists” (another article on that).

Even before the Decree was issued, Bainimarama stated on his campaign trail that voters will choose from 250 candidates from five political parties (presumably with each party putting forward 50 candidates).

But the Schedule at the end of the Electoral Decree 2014 indicates the possibility of 280 candidates (presumably also allowing for 30 Independents).

The Decree expects that the voter will face one massive ballot paper, with 280 squares, with each square having a number, name of candidate and photo (the  Decree says nothing about a party symbol to go with the candidate).

The numbers, between 135 and 414,  will be randomly allocated to the candidates.

In the polling booth, the voter will have to locate his/her preferred candidate, and circle, tick or cross the one square, out of these 280 squares.

The voting nightmare

Go to the following link for full details:

http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/bainimarama-regime-presents-fijis-electoral-nightmare-professor-wadan-narsey-30-march-2014/