SUVA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The general elections started in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji on Wednesday as voters across the country braved the rainy weather to cast their votes at polling stations open from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. local time.
About 550,194 registered Fijian voters are heading to the polls, excluding those who have already voted via pre-poll and postal voting. About 44,708 voters have taken part in the pre-poll, which was a 63 percent turnout and more than 6,000 people took part via postal ballot.
Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said that they have 1,503 polling stations and encouraged registered voters to come out and exercise their constitutional right.
Saneem reminded voters that it is important to follow all the rules while at the polling stations to avoid being penalized.
"Due to the weather, we are currently advising voters to come prepared for rain, bring a raincoat to avoid getting wet. Come line up in the cue, vote and have the rest of the day off."
Saneem also reminded Fijians that the rules that were in place during the 48-hour black out period still applies until the close of poll at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
More than 2,000 Fijian police officers have also been deployed around the island nation to provide security and maintain peace at polling stations.
Fiji's Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho said on Tuesday that they will bring additional manpower from the Fiji Military, if the need arose, to assist them with maintaining security during the 2018 general election.
Political parties are contesting these elections including the FijiFirst Party, the Fiji Labour Party, Hope Party, the Freedom Alliance Party, among others.
While having 51 provisional candidates for the 2018 general elections, the FijiFirst party's 2018 Manifesto plans to build upon the success of the last four years of governing, based on the party's 2014 Manifesto, which brought in free bus fares and free education paid by Fijian taxpayers.
FijiFirst Party said that through Voreqe Bainimarama's leadership, they fulfilled 99 percent of the promises made in the 2014 Manifesto but also delivered even more.
The party has already laid the foundation for a more prosperous Fiji and the 2018 Manifesto continues that program, said their party leader and current Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Fijian President Jioji Konrote announced on Sept. 30 to dissolve the parliament immediately for the general elections.
According to his order, the registration of voters for the election stopped on Oct. 1 and the Fijian Elections Office stopped receiving the nominations of candidates by midday on Oct. 15.
A total of 235 candidates are vying for 51 parliamentary seats in Fiji.
Despite the bad weather, a lot of voters with umbrellas were lined up at the polling stations and were happy to cast their votes.
Sefanaia Joseph, a first time voter from a suburb outside the capital city of Suva, braved the rain to cast his vote.
He is looking forward to entering university next year. He said he was excited and hopes the process would be peaceful.
