Monrovia-Liberians are eagerly awaiting general and presidential election in 2017 as hundreds of individuals’ line up their political interest to contest either for the Presidency or a legislative seat in a country where politics is seen as one of the easiest ways to success.
Already 22 political parties are ready to vie for the presidency and the number of candidates aspiring for legislative seat are countless.
Even though the election is more than a year away but the momentum is already high with presidential candidates looking to make early marks in preparation for the process.
The referee in the pending electoral process, the National Elections Commission has released key dates leading to the October 10, 2017 Presidential and Representative elections and according to the Commission’s Chairman, Jerome Korkoya the dates are subject to adjustment depending on the prevailing circumstances.
Chairman Korkoya said: “The National Election Commission depends on the government for financial support and if the circumstances avail that we need to carry out some programs in keeping with the dates just announced and there is no money we will adjust the dates”.
At a press conference Friday at the headquarters of the NEC, Chairman Korkoya said, the Commission will publish the Voters’ Registration Regulation on June 20, 2016 with accreditation for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs/CBOs scheduled for November 30, 2016. NEC stated that Regional Consultation on Civic Voter Education for voter registration begins November 15, 2016 and accreditation of Party agents, Media and Observers for Voter registration process will be on December 5, 2016.
The NEC has also declared December 29, 2016 as the date for the publication of list of voter registration centers with January 4, 2017 the official launch of Civic Voter Education (CVE) for voter registration.
Voter registration period is February 1-March 24, 2017, May 3,-June 20, 2017 CVE exhibition, May 9, 2017 issuing of writ of elections and June 9-June 30 accreditation of Party agents, Media and observers for election.
Chairman Korkoya also disclosed that June 10 to June 20, 2017 is the date set for exhibition of provisional Registration roll and distribution of voter card.
The NEC has also announced that June 10-June 24 2017 will be the period for objection and appeals on exhibition to be held and determined. July 1, 2017 will be release of final voter Registration Figures and July 2, -August 9 2017 candidate nomination.
July 2-August 9, 2017 will be the period for the objection and appeals on nomination to be held and determined.
Meanwhile the Commission says July 4, 2017 is the date set for the lunch of the CVE for the 2017 elections, with the preliminary list of candidates published on July 27, 2017 and final list of candidates published on August 8 2017.
Other key dates announced by the NEC are August 8- October 8, 2017 Presidential and representative Campaign period. August 15-September 30, 2017candidates debate period and October 10, 2017 as the day of election while October 25, 2017 is the date set for the announcement of final result.
