Monrovia – The Senate is discussing ways to amend Article 83 A and C of the Liberian Constitution to reset the Presidential and General Elections Day on the first Saturday in December of every election year.
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]
The amendment, according to its crafter, Senator Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County, is to hold election in the Dry Season.
Article 83 calls for voting for the President, Vice President, Members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the Republic to be conducted on the second Tuesday in October of each election year.
In the amendment, Sen. Sherman recommends for the reduction from 30 to 15 days activities leading to the final announcement of results after a given election. As it is currently, the results of the elections shall be declared by the Elections Commission not later than 15 days after the casting of ballots.
The current law also states that any party or candidate, who complains about the way the elections were conducted or who challenges the results thereof, shall have the right to file a complaint with the Elections Commission. Such complaint must be filed not later than seven days after the announcement of the elections result.
According to our reporter, who witnessed the proceedings, from the arguments on the floor on Tuesday, August 21, nearly all the senators, who were present, agreed to change the election time from October to December. However, they disagreed that the Saturday day selected and the 15 days suggested are not appropriate.
Senator Johnathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa County who had agreed with Senator Sherman, however, disagreed that the Saturday, December day be changed to the second Tuesday of November, which he thinks would be preferable.
Senator Nyounblee Karnga Lawrence, another senator from Grand Bassa County, warned of the danger of the constitutional crisis.
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