Likomoto, 69, casts her ballot
VILOMENA Likomoto was the first person in her village of Nasele, Naitasiri, to cast her ballot after Electoral Commission chairman Mukesh Nand opened pre-poll voting yesterday.
The 69-year-old was among the 120 expected to cast their votes at the village hall.
“My hope for the outcome of my vote is that they will help me and my village,” she said.
“The voting process was easy for me to understand because I had read the elections book.
“I was praying to God to guide me so that I will pick the person and party that will help move this country forward.
“I want to encourage the people of Fiji to vote and not waste the opportunity to choose the leaders of our country.”
Village headman Sikeli Rabakele said the villagers were educated prior to voting day.
“They went through an education program by the reps from the elections office so they were aware of how to cast their votes for the elections pre-poll,” he said.
“Majority of the young people are working in town, so these are the old people in the village, so I’m thankful they are still interested in casting their votes.”
He encouraged all voters to cast their votes.
“I encourage the voters around Fiji to cast their vote for the next four years for a good government to lead.”
Meanwhile, Mr Nand said voters living in remote places, members of the disciplined forces, residents of nursing homes or health care facilities and those under pre-trial detention or sentence imprisonment voted yesterday.
Mr Nand added pre-polling would be conducted at 613 venues for 77,907 registered voters with 109 venues in the Central Division, 175 venues in the Western Division, 140 venues in the North and 189 venues in the Eastern Division over the next four days.