MONROVIA – The Liberia Elections Observation Network (LEON) issued a statement a day after Liberia’s elections, calling on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to be efficient and effective during the counting and results tabulation process.
By Francis G. Boayue
In a press conference held on Wednesday in Monrovia, LEON provided the following statement on its initial findings during the observation of voting and the closing of polls during the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
Mr. Pilate Johnson, a member of LEON’s Steering committee, read the statement on behalf of LEON and lauded Liberians for their peaceful and high turnout in executing their constitutional right to vote and participate in democracy.
According to him, LEON’s observations focused primarily on the adherence to procedures stipulated by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
“LEON calls on NEC to continue carrying out its professional duties efficiently and effectively during the counting and results tabulation process,” Mr. Johnson said.
“LEON also calls on all political parties and stakeholders to be patient and respect the electoral process to maintain a genuine, credible, transparent, safe, and inclusive national election.”
He added, “This post-election statement follows and updates LEON’s mid-day statement on its findings from the opening of polls around the country.
“During the 2023 national election, LEON deployed 73 long-term observers (LTOs) and 53 field coordinators to supervise and support observations from 904 short-term observers (STOs) at a statistically relevant sample of designated polling places in all 73 electoral districts.
The following statement provides findings from LEON’s observers at polling places from the 15 counties across the country.
“Observations on procedures followed during voting and closing of the polls are based on data collected and verified as of 9:00 AM on October 11, 2023.
LEON’s statement also provided an update on the opening of polls on October 10, 2023.
“LEON’s Election Day process data are followed by trends identified during social media monitoring and incidents reported by observers.
“LEON’s observers reported the following procedural findings from the polling places observed.
“Notably, most NEC polling place officials “always” adhered to the procedures in eight categories listed below between approximately 72% and 97% of the time. The “mostly” category ranged between approximately 1% and 17%.
“The range for the combined figures for procedural adherence increased from 89% to 99% of the time.
“The observer data indicates that NEC officials appeared to understand and implement the NEC’s procedures during Election Day at the polling places observed.
“LEON remains concerned that important procedural steps were observed as “sometimes” or “never” adhered to.
“Observers reported that queue controllers did not check for valid voter cards approximately 7% of the time, identification officers did not tick voter names on the final registration roll approximately 7% of the time, ballot issuers did not explain how to cast a ballot correctly approximately 9% of the time, and the use of the tactile ballot by visually impaired voters was not explained at an alarming rate of approximately 11% of the time.
LEON’s recommended “That NEC continues to improve its training methods and emphasizes the needs of the visually impaired so they can more fully participate during elections.”
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