MONROVIA – Three political parties that participated in the October 10, 2023, presidential and legislative elections have called for a forensic audit of the ballot papers, especially regarding the presidential ballots to determine the validity of the results.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
In a letter addressed to the chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Brown Lansanah, the parties, including the African Liberation League (ALL), Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), and the Liberia National Union (LiNU), represented by their respective standard bearers Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Alexander Cummings, and Dr. Clarence Moniba, stated their belief that the forensic examination of the ballots, which will be conducted at no cost to the NEC, will provide the necessary assurance to the Liberian people regarding the fairness and transparency of the October 10 poll.
Below is an excerpt of the letter.
“Many Liberians, including partisans, supporters and well-wishers of our parties are deeply concerned about the announced results of the October 10 Elections, especially the presidential contest. As a result, we have decided to conduct a forensic examination of the ballot papers, by experts, at no cost to the National Elections Commission (NEC). Therefore, we request the NEC to not destroy the used and unused ballot papers after the final results are announced. Thank you in advance for working with us in this important undertaking. AIl Liberians need to continue to believe in the conduct of free and fair elections as the best way to choose our leaders. If that process now leaves many with disbelief and doubt, we should all be willing to take the required actions to clear the doubts. The forensic examination will assist in offering that much- needed reassurance to the Liberian people. We, therefore, urge your cooperation and support in this patriotic endeavor.”
Before the elections, the three parties were ranked above several political parties that outperformed them in the actual polls, which left them in disbelief.
The October 10 election results, as announced by NEC, placed Cummings in 6th place with 29,613 votes, constituting 1.61 percent of the total valid votes of 1,834,516. LiNU secured 5,298 votes (0.29%), while Madam Nyanti received 3,644 votes (0.20%).
Mr. Cummings, in an earlier statement, described the results as “ridiculous and disbelieving.”
“The announced results ridiculously defy common sense. This is sowing an unhealthy impression about our democracy. People are feeling robbed of their right to freely and fairly express their will and choice for leadership,” he said.
He said the scheme to rob the Liberian voter of their right to choose their leaders may be sophisticated and difficult to trace and prove, but in the end, it undermines our democracy and risks the security and stability of our country.
“The evil geniuses involved, and their co-conspirators may believe they can demoralize our right to vote. They may be thinking they can crush our desire to be governed democratically and live in peace, he said.”
He assured his supporters that the party would conduct a thorough investigation and hold those involved accountable for undermining Liberia’s young democracy and acting against the interests of the Liberian people.
2017 ELECTION REDUX
The three parties’ request for a forensic audit coincides with the NEC setting the date for a presidential runoff election between President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai on November 14, next month.
Announcing the final results of the October 10 polls, Chairperson Lansanah said the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) obtained the highest number of votes 804,087, constituting 43.83 percent followed by the ticket of the Unity Party (UP) which obtained 796,961 votes, constituting 43.44 percent; leaving a margin of 0.39 percent.
She said the polls were characterized by a record high turnout of 1,949,155 voters, constitutes 78.86 percent of the 2,471,617 total registered voters. She noted that the huge turnout is unprecedented in Liberia’s modern democratic history and attributed it, in part, to the Commission’s successful transition from the optical mark recognition (PMR) system of voter registration to biometric technology for the voter registration exercise.
She noted that with the results of the polls showing that no presidential ticket obtains 50 percent plus one vote, and in line with the constitution of Liberia, the two candidates with the highest votes would participate in the runoff, squaring the pair up for a repeat of the 2017 presidential runoff election.
“With the results of the 10th October polls showing that no presidential ticket obtained 50 percent plus one vote, a run-off election is hereby declared, to be held on Tuesday, 14 November 2023 between the two tickets that obtained the highest number of votes – the presidential ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led by Mr. George Manneh Weah and the presidential ticket of the Unity Party (UP) led by Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai.”
The NEC boss declared political campaign for the 14th November run-off election beginning, 24 October 2023 and close on 12 November 2023 at 11:59 p.m.