DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT

(Mar 27th, 2006 No. 36)

The current Parliament has been dissolved today - March 27, 2006 to pave the way for a free and fair general elections come the month of May.

This follows a Proclamation by the Acting President, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, on Tuesday, 28th February, 2006, that Parliament is to be dissolved on March 27, 2006.

The Proclamation was published in a special issue of the Government Gazette on Tuesday night (28/02).

Following the dissolution of Parliament will be the issuing of the Writ of Elections tomorrow - March 28th. The writ is normally issued by the President requiring that an election be held.

This according to the Elections Office timetable, will be followed by the Petition of Demonstrated Support that will end on Friday 31st March.

The Close of Electoral Rolls, will follow on April 4th, whereby this will be considered the last day to register as a voter since it is considered that the rolls must close 7 days after the writ is issued.

Seven days after the closure of electoral rolls will be the Nomination Day - April 11 whereby this will be the last day for receiving a nomination of a candidate for election to the House of Representatives.

Nomination of candidates for the Elections will take place within 14 days from the date the Writs for the Elections are issued.

The next day - April 12th will be followed by Objections Day where people will be allowed to object to the nominations of candidates. Objections will be received by the Returning Officers and the Elections Office between 9am -1pm and 2pm -4pm on this day.

This will be followed by the last day where political parties will be required to lodge their list of preferences - April 18th, 2006.

Polling will then begin from May 6-13th, 2006. It is required that polling be held within 30 days from the closing of nomination of candidates. The polling dates of 6th to the 13th May inclusive, fall within this constitutionally stipulated time frame.

The Transfer of Boxes (votes) will be done on May 14th and counting is to start on May 15th with the estimated day for the counting to end on May 17th, 2006.

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