CAPITOL Hill, Monrovia– The House of Representatives has passed a resolution establishing a new constitutional framework for the reapportionment of electoral constituencies in Liberia, paving the way for the creation of 16 additional electoral districts beyond the current 73.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The resolution, submitted by the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, seeks to implement Articles 39, 80(d), and 80(e) of the 1986 Constitution by establishing a population-based standard to guide the National Elections Commission (NEC) in redrawing constituency boundaries using the certified results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
A total of 50 lawmakers signed the resolution in support of its adoption.
According to the committee’s report, the constitutional requirement for constituency reapportionment became mandatory following the certification of the 2022 census, which recorded Liberia’s population at 5,250,187—an increase of approximately 51 percent from the 3,476,608 population recorded in the 2008 census.
The report noted that Liberia has continued to use constituency boundaries established after the 2008 census, which resulted in the current 73 electoral districts utilized during the 2011, 2017, and 2023 general elections.
Lawmakers argued that the existing electoral map no longer reflects the country’s current population distribution and demographic realities, making a review necessary to comply with constitutional provisions.
The resolution proposes a population-based formula for reapportionment that could increase the number of electoral districts by 16, subject to implementation by the NEC.
Following endorsement by 50 members, Margibi County District #2 Representative Ivar K. Jones moved for the passage of the resolution. The motion was subsequently approved by a majority voice vote during plenary.
With the House’s approval, the resolution will now be forwarded to the Liberian Senate for concurrence. If approved by the Senate, it will become the Legislature’s official prescription under Article 80(d) of the Constitution, providing the framework for the NEC to undertake the creation and adjustment of electoral districts nationwide.
The proposed reapportionment is expected to significantly reshape Liberia’s electoral landscape ahead of future elections, aligning legislative representation more closely with population growth and distribution across the country.
