MONROVIA – The USAID-supported Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), implemented by Democracy International (DI), is deploying a nine-member observation mission for the Senatorial By-Election in Nimba County in Liberia on April 23, 2024. DI will deploy to six of the nine districts and anticipates visiting 12 precincts in Ganta City, Bahn, Beatou, Rlantuo, Saclepea, Sannequellie, Kpein, Tappita, and Wuo Town. Nimba County has 307,254 registered voters at 262 precincts, comprising 736 polling places.
DI’s deployment is conducted in close cooperation with observers from the US Embassy, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), the Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), and the Liberian Election Observation Network (LEON). EDA looks forward to contributing to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process in the upcoming by-elections.
The Nimba By-Election is to fill the position of former Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung, recently elected Vice-President. A concurrent by-election in Grand Gedeh County is being held in District #1 following the death of Representative Erol Madison Gwion.
DI’s Elections and Democracy Activity is delivering civic voter education through radio, community theater, and community dialogues with EDA grantee Supporting Citizen Initiatives for Development in Africa (SCIDA) in Nimba and their partner, Efficient Research & Development Institute (ERDI) in Grand Gedeh. EDA partner, Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD), is advancing women’s political participation by engaging voters, candidates, and media in both counties, including three women contesting in Grand Gedeh.
DI commends the NEC for delivering 413,050 ballots to Nimba County and another 26,400 to Grand Gedeh District #1 on time. DI will continue facilitating the NEC’s Lessons Learned process to help the NEC build upon its achievements and provide further technical assistance. The DI observation mission demonstrates international support for the Liberian people in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. DI is organizing this mission with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, declared at the United Nations in 2005.