Monrovia-Project Accountable Safe Space (PASS) Women’s Accountability Room has commended Liberians for the huge turnout on election day and at the same time praised the National Elections Commission for ensuring the smooth conduct of Liberia’s Presidential and Legislative Elections.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Giving their reports filed by PASS Women’s Accountability Room observers deployed across the fifteen (15) counties on Thursday in Monrovia, Atty. Mmonbeydo N. Joah said 84.4% of PASS observers witnessed intimidating behaviour by some election poll workers towards the women voters for several various reasons.
According to the group, some reasons provided for the observed behaviour towards the women vary. Adding that election poll workers were presuming they (women) were dishonest about their status as baby mothers or pregnant.
Other reasons the group says included the issue of special needs individuals taking too much of the election’s poll workers s time.
The group says: “87% of the precincts observed, PASS observers noted that all the polling staff were not present. Reasons given for staff absent at 13% of the polling places observed include that some staff registered for assignment in two places and others opted to take up out of town assignment since it paid better. 63% of the polling places observed had a woman presiding officer.”
Atty. Joah added: “At 97% of polling places visited, observers noted that party poll watchers could clearly see the process. At 60.9% of polling places, our observer noted voters’ fingers were checked for prior inking. At 80.4% of the polling places visited, observers noted voters’ confusion with identifying their polling enter. At 68.8% of the polling places observed, voters who arrived or in the lines at 6:00pm were allowed to vote.”
PASS furthers that at 25% of the polling places visited, observers noted several challenges associated with the closing of the polls. One of the major challenges cited for the delays was poor lighting in the polling facilities.
Atty. Joah says at 60.9% of polling places, their observer noted voters’ fingers were checked for prior inking. She added that in Bomi County, a female voter alleged to have been buying votes was slapped by a male voter. They both was arrested by the police.
She added: “In both Bong County at the Kpakoloyah Public School and Cape mount County, District # 2, at polling place 5 respectively, elderly women complained that they were being harassed by vote buyers. We note that there were several incidences of violence occurred before, during, and after elections.”
According to the Atty. Joah, PASS observers also noted that persons purporting to be NEC officials had the alleged markings of the NEC.
“Other incidents were also reported from the Administrative Building Grand Bassa by our observers which an already checked name place on the FRR. Our observers also noted the absence of queue controllers at observed polling places leading to disorder and in many cases sexual harassment by male voters against female voters,” she said.
Also, the election observer group has put forth several commendations to the National Election Commission (NEC) to improve the conduct of further elections in Liberia.
In a statement, Atty. Joah calls on NEC staff to have respect for vulnerable persons and conduct training for poll workers and community workers not less than one month to election day and ensure that poll workers are knowledgeable of elections guidelines through extensive practice sessions.
The group also calls on NEC to ensure that queue controllers are on the line to maintain order and avoid instance of sexual harassment. Increase polling stations in accordance with the census report and as per the law.
Madam Joah added: “NEC should continue to engage citizens through the traditional and social media giving out information to the public and be available when there are calls for clarity.” She continues: “Adhere to section 10 of the new elections law by investigating and implementing punitive measures for political parties whose members engage in political violence. Monitor the media and hold political actors accountable for spreading misinformation about the elections.”