Monrovia – The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) in a communication to both Houses of the Legislature says it is deeply concerned that as the country approaches the 2017 election, a decision is yet to be reached between the National Election Commission (NEC) and the Legislature on setting a new threshold to reapportion constituencies for the 2017 Legislative elections in keeping with Articles 80 (d) and (e) of the Liberian Constitution.
“The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) wishes to point out that in 2010 constituencies were not apportioned based on the 2008 census report in keeping with constitutional provisions cited above,” ECC Chairperson Oscar Bloh said.
Bloh’s communication noted, “The Legislature through a joint resolution in 2010 instructed NEC to set a special threshold, thus adding nine (9) additional seats to the existing sixty-four (64) seats from the 2005 Presidential and Legislative elections.”
According to Bloh, the joint resolution which was adopted by the NEC contravened Article 80 (d) and (e) of the Liberian Constitution and has expired because it was dealing specifically with the 2011 general elections, and therefore the same formula could not be used by NEC for the upcoming 2017 general elections.
The ECC Chairperson said under Liberia’s democratic system, political representation is not based on registered voters, but rather on the population as determined by a census report.
“The ECC therefore calls on the Legislature to include on its agenda during this Special Session establishing a new threshold based on the 2008 census report, before the start of the voter registration process in February 2017,” the communication averred.
In 2010, Liberia’s electoral districts were reallocated and critical constitutional amendments were advanced in an effort to improve conditions for the 2011 presidential and legislative elections.
With the communication to both Houses, the ECC chairperson says they look forward to a favorable response as we all work to strengthen the country’s emerging and fragile democracy.
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) is a non-partisan professional network of civil society organizations that monitors, documents, and reports on election issues to promote transparency and accountability in the democratic process.
The elections work of the ECC is conducted in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with support from USAID.
