MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) has announced that there is insufficient funding for a possible run-off in the upcoming Presidential and General elections scheduled for October 10, 2023. This shortfall is due to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning providing $3 million less than the amount required by the NEC.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
During a recent appearance before the Senate on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansannah, the chairperson of the NEC, conveyed that a run-off election could only be conducted if the Ministry of Finance disburses the remaining $3.2 million. She informed Senate members that, to date, the Ministry has remitted slightly over $49 million of the $53 million budget approved by the legislature. She also revealed that ballot papers are currently in the process of being printed and will soon arrive in the country.
She stated, “Regarding the availability of funds for a potential run-off, I must say no, as we still require the remaining $3.2 million to reach the $53 million budget for the elections.”
When asked whether individuals would be permitted to bring cameras into polling stations, she responded, “Under normal circumstances, no one is allowed to carry cameras to take photos of their activities.” Additionally, she reiterated that the voting process would remain manual, with no electronic voting systems in place.
Why was the Liberia Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) System Necessary?
In Liberia, where a series of elections have historically been conducted using the manual Optical Mark Recognition System (OMR), the introduction of the Biometric Enrollment System (BES) was deemed necessary. The BES serves as a safeguard against potential manipulation of the manual OMR system by voters and political actors, which tends to become more prevalent once the electorate and political contestants become accustomed to the manual system.
Manipulation of the OMR system typically involves multiple registrations by voters and the casting of ballots on behalf of registrants, often facilitated by the acquisition and distribution of voter registration cards by political actors. The biometric enrollment system combats these issues by fingerprinting voters during the data collection process, thereby preventing multiple registrations. Additionally, it ensures the accurate verification of voters on election day by employing the biometric system.
It is crucial to underscore that the effectiveness of the biometric system relies on its honest and professional implementation by the Electoral Management Body (EMB), also known as the Electoral Commission.
