Diaspora Groups Petition Liberian Legislature for Out-of-Country Voting Rights

Monrovia – Major Liberian diaspora organizations have decided to formally petition the House of Representatives to enact legislation granting Liberians living abroad the right to vote in national elections.

The petition, submitted under the joint banner of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD) and the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), calls on lawmakers to introduce and pass a bill allowing diaspora Liberians to participate in elections from outside the country.

According to the petitioners, the proposed legislation would enable Liberians living overseas to cast ballots at Liberian embassies or other designated voting centers established by the National Elections Commission (Liberia).

Diaspora Seeks Inclusion in Democratic Process

In the preamble to the petition, diaspora leaders said their appeal is grounded in patriotism, constitutional principles, and a shared commitment to Liberia’s democratic development.

“We submit this petition not as an act of confrontation,” the statement declared, “but as an appeal rooted in patriotism, unity, and shared destiny.”

The petition emphasizes that more than 500,000 Liberians currently reside outside the country, many of whom left during periods of political instability following the 1980 coup and Liberia’s fourteen-year civil conflict.

Diaspora advocates argue that these citizens remain deeply connected to Liberia’s development and therefore deserve full participation in the country’s democratic processes.

Coalition of Diaspora Organizations

The effort is being spearheaded by ALCOD, a broad coalition of diaspora organizations representing Liberians across multiple regions of the world, and ULAA.

ALCOD comprises the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), the Conference of Liberian Organizations in the Southwestern United States (COLOSUS), the United Liberian Association in Ghana (ULAG), the Federation of Liberian Communities in Australia (FOLICA), and the advocacy group, Liberians Advocacy for Change (LAFC), and others.

Together, these organizations represent the interests of Liberians living across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Signatories from Global Diaspora Leadership

The petition bears the signatures of several prominent diaspora leaders, including ULAA President Mohammad Keita, EFLA President Francis Mensah, COLOSUS President Willie Kim Kamara, ULAG President Julia Mardea Richards, and FOLICA President James Andrews.

Other signatories include ULAA National Vice President Emmanuette Meko Gbalazeh Nagbe, Social Services Council Executive Director Alfred Sieh, Constitution Committee Chairman Bangalee A. Trawally, Mrs. Comfort Itoka, Liberians Advocacy for Change (LAFC) Representative, and ALCOD Co-Chairman Kingston Washington Wleh Sr.

The petition was formally submitted by ALCOD Chairman Emmanuel S. Wettee.

Constitutional Argument

Diaspora leaders contend that Liberians living abroad retain their citizenship and therefore should enjoy the same constitutional rights as those residing within the country.

They argue that the Legislature has both the authority and responsibility to enact laws that benefit all Liberians regardless of where they reside.

“Liberians in the diaspora continue to enjoy their Liberian citizenship and deserve the constitutional democratic rights of citizens of the Republic,” the petition states.

A Longstanding Debate

The issue of out-of-country voting has been debated in Liberia for years, particularly as the diaspora community’s economic and political influence continues to grow.

Remittances from Liberians abroad contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the national economy, supporting families, businesses, education, and health services across the country.

Advocates say allowing diaspora voting would strengthen democratic participation and acknowledge the diaspora’s ongoing contributions to national development.

The petitioners say they hope the Legislature will consider their appeal as part of broader discussions about expanding democratic participation and strengthening ties between Liberia and its global diaspora community.

The petition concludes with a message of unity: “Once a Liberian, always a Liberian.”