Monrovia – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has commended the People of Liberia for their participation during the October 2023 General Presidential and Legislative Elections as they exercised their civil and political rights under the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
In a release issued on Wednesday, the INCHR described this effort as the commitment of Liberians to the democratic process. The INCHR also recalled that participation in any electoral process cannot be effective unless a wide range of human rights are respected such as the freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom from discrimination, and freedom from fear and intimidation. Consequently, it is against these fundamental guarantees that the INCHR has conducted and continues to conduct human-rights-friendly monitoring during the pre-electoral, electoral, and post-electoral phases throughout the length and breadth of the Republic of Liberia.
According to the INCHR, during its election monitoring mission conducted in the 15 political subdivisions, it observed that polling day was generally peaceful, except for a few isolated cases of confusion and scrambling in the queues that were subsequently controlled through the intervention of state security.
The Commission said that whilst security officers were assigned at most polling centers, some polling centers lacked security officers during the early morning hours, and other security centers required increased security personnel as the hours advanced, and the crowds increased. The INCHR said it brought this matter to the attention of the relevant state actors and security officers were dispatched to these various localities.
It noted that voting at some polling centers were delayed due to logistical complaints on the side of the electoral monitoring body, the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Notwithstanding, the NEC formally committed to the expansion of voting time at these centers. In some instances, voting went beyond 6 p.m.
Some of the logistical constraints reported include bad road conditions that made timely transportation of electoral materials difficult, ballot papers that were drenched due to the rain, and in a few instances, faulty ballot boxes, the INCHR said.
It further revealed that at all polling centers visited, priority was given to the elderly, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Notwithstanding these exceptions, some centers had disability-unfriendly stairs that made access very difficult for persons with disabilities.
The INCHR also noted that whilst tactile ballots were available for the blind, it was only offered based on request. In some instances, INCHR noted that the disabled in this category came to the polling centers with trusted relatives to vote for them.d
It observed that although each precinct was assigned a queue controller, in precincts with a larger number of registered voters, a single queue controller proved to be inadequate, as it took a longer time to direct voters to their assigned polling centers within the precinct, and led to longer stand-up time for voters. The INCHR also observed the presence of poll watchers from various political parties, and independent candidates, and the smooth collaboration between these representatives and NEC workers;
According to the Commission, the presence of national and international observers was noted throughout the 15 political subdivisions; and counting of ballot boxes commenced at the end of the close of polls and counting was conducted in the presence of political party representatives and accredited observers.
Records of accounts were openly posted on the walls of the polling centers to give political party representatives and accredited observers the opportunity to take pictures for onward transmission, the INCHR added.
It said: “Based on these observations, the INCHR commends the efforts of the National Elections Commission (NEC), State security, and their respective staff assigned in the various counties for the professional nature in which the elections were conducted, whilst at the same time calling for improvement in some of the areas identified above.”
It added: “Cognizant that the monitoring and reporting of the 2023 National and General Elections by the INCHR is vital for the integrity of the electoral process, as well as the promotion of public confidence in the process, the INCHR remains committed to monitoring and reporting on the post-electoral phase of these elections. As such, it calls on all Liberians to exhibit a high degree of tolerance as the National Elections Commission begins the announcement of preliminary results. The INCHR believes that peace and stability are essential and that all Liberians are under obligation to maintain the peace we all enjoy while we all await the transparent and sincere counting of votes that reflects the will of the Liberian People.”