Anonymous officer reveals most deployed police didn’t vote

In the recent snap election, concerns have been raised about numerous police officers and Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) officers being unable to exercise their right to vote. This issue arose because many officers were deployed to various islands on election day to maintain peace and security at polling stations.

According to Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) media reports, over 50 officers from Port Vila alone were deployed, not including other officers sent to rural areas of Santo. An unnamed officer confirmed the issue and expressed frustration. “It is true that many police and VMF officers could not vote because they were deployed to other constituencies,” the officer stated.

The officer further emphasized that this situation raises constitutional concerns. “It is a breach of the Vanuatu constitution. Police and VMF officers are public servants and like all citizens, they have the right to vote. However, due to their duties during the election, they were denied the opportunity to vote.”

When contacted, the Vanuatu Electoral Office (VEO) stated that some officers had arranged for their families to vote on their behalf through proxy voting while they were deployed to the islands for duty. VPF media noted that details regarding proxy voting arrangements fall under the purview of VMF and police operations personnel. As they are still busy, it will take time to reach the operations personnel.

“Officers who were expected to be deployed should have arranged for proxy voting, but this process was not widely encouraged or facilitated. This is not a good example for public servants, who should be setting the standard for civic engagement,” the anonymous officer added. The officer called for systemic reform to prevent similar issues in the future. “There should be clear provisions to ensure that all public servants, especially those deployed during elections, have the opportunity to vote. Whether through early voting, expanded proxy voting options, or special arrangements, their right to participate must be guaranteed.”

This issue is not limited to law enforcement, as other public servants deployed for election-related duties also faced similar voting challenges. Interestingly, Jehovah's Witnesses, due to their faith's strict avoidance of politics, are not affected by these issues. Their faith, rooted in biblical teachings, guides them to remain neutral and abstain from all political activities.