2.4 million vote as polls open in Liberia

2.4 million registered voters are voting in Liberia today to elect a president, 15 senators and 73 members of the house of representatives.

This is the country’s fourth consecutive election since the end of the second civil war.

Polls opened at 8am Liberian local time and is expected to close at 6pm. Voters who are in the queue by 6pm will be allowed to cast their ballot.

In all, voting will happen at 5,890 polling centres across the country according to the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC).

20 candidates are contesting for the apex office of Liberia although the race is largely between incumbent president George Weah of the Coalition of Democratic Change (CDC) and former Vice President Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party (UP).

While Mr. Weah expresses confidence in the past six years of his government claiming he stabilized the country and asking for a renewal of his mandate to continue working, the main opposition led by Boakai promises to rescue the country arguing that the country retrogressed when the incumbent took charge.

Other notable presidential candidates include businessman Alexander Cummings, renowned human rights lawyer Tiawan Gongloe and the only female candidates, former United Nations deputy special representative Sara Nyanti and independent candidate Bendu Kromah.

The President is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds and may serve up to two 6-year terms.

With relative political stability, the West African country continues to struggle with corruption, economic challenges and electoral violence. At least 2 people were killed while scores were injured during the campaign period. Deadly clashes were recorded between supporters of the ruling party and the opposition Unity Party raising concern about the conduct of peaceful elections.

Meanwhile, NEC is expected to announce or declare presidential results within a maximum of fifteen days after voting. Aside that, provisional results will be announced as county reports are received.

In case of electoral disputes, aggrieved parties are required by law to file a complaint with the Elections Commission. If they are not satisfied with the outcome, they shall not later than seven days, appeal against it to the Supreme Court.

AEP

Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelection and like our Facebook page: African Elections Project Facebook.

 

#LiberiaElections 2023: Get Familiar with the Facts and Figures

 

On Tuesday October 10, Liberians will vote for their next President, House of Representatives, and Senators. In this blog post, we delve into a comprehensive exploration of the facts and figures surrounding these elections, shedding light on the key statistics, voter demographics, and notable historical contexts.

Check out this interesting facts and figures below:

1.     1. Tuesday’s election will be the fourth post-war democratic presidential and legislative elections in Liberia.

2.     2. The country’s Senate consists of 30 members of which only 15 will be voted for (the other 15 is contested three years later according to the electoral law  as well as 73 members in the House of Representatives. All members serve 9-year terms

3.     3. All Liberian citizens over 18 years old who have registered as voters can vote.

4.     4. Voters with disabilities can have someone assist them in marking and casting their ballots, provided the helper is also a registered voter.

5.     5. The campaign period, declared by Liberia's National Elections Commission, is from August 5, 2023, to October 8, 2023.

6.     6. For the first time, the NEC has introduced the 'Biometric Voter Registration' (BVR) exercise to minimize irregularities and double registrations.

7.     7. Although BVR was introduced for registration purposes, voters will use the manual system to cast their votes.

8.     8. 5,890 polling centres will be operational for Tuesday’s vote.

9.     9. The total number of registered voters is 2,471,617.

1010. There are 20 presidential candidates, including two women.

11. 11.  Incumbent President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai are considered as frontrunners in the 2023 elections.

12.  12. Voting will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 6:00 p.m. However, voters already in the queue can cast their ballots beyond 6:00 p.m.

13.  13. Three categories of ballot papers will be issued in different colours: Presidential and vice presidential ballots in red, Senatorial ballot in blue, and Representative ballot in green.

14.  14. The Commission is expected to announce or declare results within a maximum of fifteen days after voting. Provisional results will be announced as county reports are received.

15.  15. The presidential ballots will be counted first, followed by the Senate and then the House of Representatives ballot.

16.  16. Only accredited NEC officials, domestic and international observers, accredited party representatives, accredited journalists, and the Liberian National Police (LNP) are allowed to be present during the counting process.

17.  17. A little over 40% of registered voters fall within the age range of 18 to 34

18.  18. Liberia has 15 counties and each county is represented by 2 senators while the 73 members of the house of representatives are elected from single seat constituencies.

19.  19. George Weah won the 2017 elections in the second round, polling 61.5% of the votes against former Vice President Joseph  Boakai who get 38.5% of the votes.

20.  20. In case of electoral disputes, aggrieved parties are required by law to file a complaint with the Elections Commission. If they are not satisfied with the outcome, they shall not later than seven days appeal against it to the Supreme Court.

#LiberiaDecides2023: Meet the leading candidates in the upcoming polls

Liberians will be voting next week in their fourth general election since the end of the second civil war in 2003.

Against this backdrop, the African Elections Project sheds light on the leading presidential candidates who are vying for the nation's highest office on October 10 2023.

Although 20 candidates have been cleared by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to contest in this year’s general elections, two prominent presidential contenders have emerged as frontrunners. They are incumbent President, George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai.

As the elections inch close, let’s delve into the profiles of these leading presidential hopefuls, examining their backgrounds, policy stances, and the local dynamics that influence their campaigns.

George Weah

George Weah, a former professional footballer and the incumbent President of Liberia has had a fair share of ups and downs in his political journey in Liberia. Having served  as a United Nations goodwill ambassador following the ousting of President Charles Taylor in 2003, Mr.Weah contested for the presidency in 2005 under the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party but lost to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a runoff election.

In 2011, Weah teamed up as a vice presidential candidate on the CDC ticket with Winston Tubman. Following the duo’s challenge of the election results and boycott of the runoff, Johnson Sirleaf was re-elected.

Weah successfully ran for the position of senator in Montserrado County in 2014 and later merged the CDC with other parties to form the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in preparation for the 2017 presidential election. He won the election with 61.5% of the vote, against then Vice President, Joseph Boakai.

Despite the initial hope and optimism surrounding George Weah's presidency in Liberia, his tenure has faced significant challenges and disappointments. One major issue was the scandal involving the disappearance of newly printed Liberian banknotes worth approximately $100 million. Although an investigation later deemed the allegations unfounded, it revealed a lack of transparency and proper procedures in the central bank's actions.

The economic situation during Weah's presidency has also been challenging, with low economic growth, high inflation, and currency depreciation. Despite disappointment with Weah's performance, some of his supporters on the streets of Monrovia expressed hope that he would encourage more investment and job creation, ultimately improving the lives of the people. They believe that giving Weah more time and support could lead to positive changes in Liberia's economy.

Joseph Boakai

Joseph Nyuma Boakai is a distinguished Liberian statesman with over 35 years of dedicated public service in various sectors. He is the leader of the Unity Party. Boakai played a crucial role as the Vice President of Liberia, serving alongside President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during Liberia's post-civil war recovery and development. He also contested the presidency in the 2017 elections, running against George Weah. Throughout his career, he held significant positions, including president of the Liberian Senate, managing director of the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC), managing director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), and minister of agriculture, where he shaped agricultural policies and projects.

Boakai's 2023 campaign message focuses on unity and transformation for Liberia. The campaign aims to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build a brighter future for the country, emphasizing the upcoming October 10, 2023 election as an opportunity for collective action and change.

Alexander Cummings

Alexander Cummings is a Liberian politician, businessman, and philanthropist. He has a background in international business, particularly with Coca-Cola, where he retired as the Chief Administrator in 2016. Cummings is the standard bearer of Liberia's Alternative National Congress and the leader of the Collaborating Political Parties.

In his 2023 campaign, Cummings pledges to prioritize Liberian interests, invest in Liberian businesses, and support agriculture, among others. He aims to transform the economy by adding value to raw materials and promoting manufacturing within the country.

Other candidates

Other candidates contesting in Liberia’s presidential election include lone female candidate Sara Beysolow Nyanti (African Liberation League), Edward Appleton Jr. (Grassroots Development Movement), Allen Brown Jr. (Liberia Restoration Party), Simeon Freeman (Movement for Progressive Change), Tiawan Saye Gongloe (Liberian's People's Party), Lusinee Kamara Sr. (All Liberia Coalition Party), David Kiamu (Democratic People's Party of Liberia), Alexander Kolie (Reformers National Congress), Sheikh Kouyateh (Liberia First Movement), Bendu Alehma Kromah (Independent), Richard Saye Miller (Liberians for Prosperity), Clarence Moniba (Liberian National Union) and Robert Franz Morris (Independent).

The others are William Wiah Tuider (Democratic National Allegiance), Joshua Tom Turner (New Liberia Party), Jeremiah Whaploe (Vision for Liberia Transformation), and Luther Yorflee (Liberia Rebuilding Party).

 AEP

Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelection and like our Facebook page: African Elections Project Facebook. 

2023: 9 key elections to watch in Africa

 

You may be right to call 2023 a “year of elections” because it promises to be a busy year for African politics as some in Africa prepare to hold their General Elections. The upcoming elections will include those of Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Gabon, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Sudan and Africa's biggest, happening in Nigeria.

Nigeria

The election train will first stop in Nigeria as former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, People's Democratic Party's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi battle it out as frontrunners in the race to succeed President Buhari.

Nigeria's February general election promises to be an interesting one as it has raised a great deal of expectation among young voters who are eager to see the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's rule. Particularly due to the fact that, the country is currently grappling with economic downturn and heightened insecurity.

Sierra Leone

In June, Sierra Leone will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to seek a second term. His Sierra Leone People's Party will be hoping to retain its majority in the national assembly, which has been threatened by rising discontent over the high cost of living.

Zimbabwe

The third stop of the election train will be in Zimbabwe where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be hoping to overcome a new challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa whose Citizens Coalition for Change outfit has sought to galvanize the opposition and to correct the mistakes of 2018.

Liberia

As though the twits and turns in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe won’t be enough, in October, Africa's oldest republic will hold its presidential and parliamentary polls in what will be a milestone for a country still recovering from years of civil war and a devastating epidemic. President George Weah has faced criticism for failing to tackle rampant corruption and for being away from the country to watch the World Cup in Qatar while the country faced an economic downturn.

Gabon

Meanwhile, President Ali Bongo looks set for re-election in Gabon after tacit endorsement by members of his Gabonese Democratic Party. Despite suffering a stroke which left him struggling to walk, the ruling party appears unwilling to retire its 63-year-old leader. The Bongo family has ruled over oil-rich Gabon since 1967.

Madagascar

In November, citizens in Madagascar will put their democratic system of governance to test. 48-year-old President Andry Rajoelina is vying for his second consecutive 5-year term in office. Rajoelina will be competing against Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Madagascar’s President from 2014 to 2018. The two opposition figures are expected to form a united platform in the effort to improve their prospects of defeating Rajoelina. The extent to which they can mount a coordinated campaign will determine how seriously they can challenge the incumbent.

Regardless of which candidate emerges victorious from Madagascar’s election, strengthening the mechanisms of popular participation, power sharing, and accountability enabled by institutions like an independent legislature, judiciary, and media will be the real priority of Madagascar’s democratic development.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Similarly, in December, the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold a general election to choose a new president, national assembly and senate. In power since 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to seek a second term. Having fallen out with his predecessor whose support secured the presidency for him, Tshisekedi will have to find new allies to face an opposition which has long been doing its preps. Moise Katumbi has already declared intent to run. With the east of the country embroiled in conflict, Tshisekedi might struggle to convince the Congolese he's the change they seek.