Monrovia – The All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), diaspora Liberians’ premier organization for advocating for dual citizenship and out-of-country voting, has decided to adjust its strategy for advocating for out-of-country voting by seeking the expert opinions of legal luminaries and other prominent Liberians outside government. The decision to adjust the strategy for out-of-country voting is based on the recommendations of sound, constitutional, human rights legal minds.
While in Liberia attending the Diaspora Liberians Annual Return 2024 in December, an ALCOD delegation met constitutional, human rights, and other lawyers to discuss their strategies for advocating for out-of-country voting. ALCOD’s current strategies had included meeting with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and lawmakers to discuss the options of diaspora Liberians voting in the 2029 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
ALCOD bases its advocacy on out-of-country voting on Article 80 Section ‘C’ of the 1986 Constitution. “Every Liberian citizen shall have the right to be registered in a constituency, and to vote in public elections only in the constituency where registered, either in person or by absentee ballot; provided that such citizen shall have the right to change his voting constituency as may be prescribed by the Legislature.”
In meetings with those prominent legal minds and other Liberians, it was suggested that ALCOD appeals to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., to obtain the government’s formal position on out-of-country voting for Liberians in the diaspora within the context of registering in a “constituency” and “absentee balloting “ as stipulated in Article 80 ‘C’ of the Liberian Constitution.
One noticeable legal practitioner that the ALCOD delegation, which was led by Co-Chairman Kingston Wleh, met with in Liberia was Counselor Tiawan Saye Gongloe, who is a Human Rights and Constitutional Lawyer. The learned Counselor indicated to ALCOD that knowing the Liberian Government’s formal position on the issue of out-of-country voting within the context of registering in a “constituency” and “absentee balloting” as stipulated in Article 80 ‘C’ will help map out a final strategy for out-of-country voting. In previous meetings with others legal practitioner similar suggestions were proffered.
Cllr. Gongloe had indicated to them that in the absence of not knowing government’s formal position on the issue, within the context of registering in a “constituency” and “absentee balloting “ as stipulated in Article 80 ‘C’, advocates for out-of-country voting will have some challenges in their advocacy.
To achieve this, ALCOD has mandated its Eminent Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee, to lead the appeal effort to President Boakai, for the government’s definitions for “constituency” and “absentee ballot” as stated in Article 80 Section ‘C’. Eminent Wettee was also asked to establish contacts with other diaspora Liberian groups/organizations for them to do the same.
Meeting NEC & Lawmakers
In fact, ALCOD delegation has on many occasions met with authorities of the NEC and held discussions aimed at finding a way to make out-of-country voting a reality. According to ALCOD in all of their meetings, the NEC had expressed willingness to make out-of-country voting a reality when the right platform, funding, and infrastructure are available.
In addition to meeting with authorities of the NEC, ALCOD delegation has also met with some “friendly lawmakers,” who are willing to collaborate with other stakeholders in order to make or amend law to make out-of-country voting a reality.
Just like the collective efforts of Liberians in the diaspora in achieving dual citizenship and making “Once A Liberian Always A Liberia” a reality and dual citizenship is law of the land, ALCOD is calling and encouraging all diaspora organizations and Liberians to appeal to the President in their separate meetings with him. ALCOD is also encouraging all Liberian diaspora organizations to join the advocacy for out-of-country voting.
Meanwhile, ALCOD has acknowledged Mr. Michael Mueller, Chairman, Board of the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA) and Cllr. Jerome Verdier, who are tirelessly advocating for out-of-country voting using other methods.
Background
ALCOD started the campaign advocating for dual citizenship in December 2012 and achieved it in July 2022. ALCOD is diaspora Liberians premier organization advocating for dual citizenship and out-of-country voting.
On Thursday, November 11, 2021, the House of Representatives passed into law the Act amending the country’s Alien and Nationality Law.
The Act, which was co-sponsored by thirty lawmakers from the House, was read in plenary on November 2, 2021. It sought to amend Part III, Chapter 20, Section 20.1; Chapter 21, Sections 21.30, 21.31, 21.51 & 21.52 and Chapter 22, Sections 22.1, 22.1 & 22.4 of the Aliens and Nationality Law of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, Vol. II. This was done under the auspices of ALCOD, representing more than 500,000 Liberians living in the diaspora.
Following the passage in the House, the Senate on Friday, May 19, 2022, concurred with the House to amend provisions of Liberian Aliens and Nationality Law, which caused automatic loss of Liberian citizenship. The Senate’s amendment essentially confirms a famous saying of ALCOD, “Once a Liberian, Always a Liberian.”
Few weeks following the enactment of the law on July 22, 2022, ALCOD disclosed that more than 1000 Liberians with dual citizenship obtained their ‘Ordinary Liberian Passport’. According to ALCOD, with wide publicity on getting passports, it is expected that about 15,000 Liberians with dual citizenship are expected to get their passport by the end of 2026.
