Liberia’s election management body, the National Elections Commission (NEC) in its first public address has released some provisional results and provided crucial updates about the electoral process following the October 10, 2023, general elections. 

More than 2.4 million registered voters were expected to cast their ballots and vote for a President, Senators, and House of Representatives.

The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne Lansanah during the media address on October 11 shared some challenges they have encountered with the voting process in different parts of the country, and how some polling places were still allowing citizens to vote even at the time of the briefing.

Here are 3 key highlights of the update by the NEC. 

Voting is ongoing in part of Rivercess County 

According to the National Elections Commission (NEC), electoral materials arrived late in a few precincts in District 1 of Rivercess due to flooding of the Tombo River. 

Voting was successful in all precincts except Suakon Dehbor Town, which was still voting at the time of briefing (October 11).  

“The NEC magistrate informed the commission that voting is ongoing in Suakon Dehbor Town today,” the Chairperson of NEC, Davidetta Browne Lansanah said (Between 38:22 -38: 32 mins).

No information has been received from 5 precincts 

Additionally, due to inaccessibility and lack of mobile network coverage, there has so far been no information from five precincts. 

“As to whether elections were conducted in these places, we still are looking for that information. Once it becomes possible to reach those areas, the Commission will inform stakeholders about the conduct of the elections in those places,” she stated (Between 39:40 – 39: 49 mins ).

Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has assured that they will work round the clock to complete the elections in the affected areas. 

Wet electoral materials and bad roads prevented voting in parts of Sinoe County

“In Sinoe County, elections were held on 10th October in almost all of the precincts except Karquekpo and Jarpuken in electoral District 2. It is worth mentioning that while transporting electoral materials, including ballots, for the two precincts, some of the materials got wet due to torrential rains and flooding,” Davidetta Browne Lansanah stated (Between 38:32-38:58 mins) 

According to NEC, the damaged materials will be replaced for the conduct of the elections in affected areas in the next week. 

Meanwhile, the voting process did not take place in  Togbaville in election District 3 due to bad roads.

“The NEC will dispatch a team to assist the magisterial team in the county as soon as possible,” the Chairperson of NEC added (Between 39:00 – 39:24 mins).

 

By: Julius Kofi Satsi