Electoral Reform

Citizens of Robertsport in Grand Cape Mount County called on Government and partners to make electoral reforms.  

A recent community forums held in Robertsport in Grand Cape Mount County brought a cross-section of citizens together to dialogue on the nation’s electoral process, with specific focus on reforms.

Representing diverse communities, organizations and political affiliations, gathered in Robertsport to take part in the forum organized by Citizens in Liberia Engaged to Advance Electoral Reform (CLEAR) initiative that discusses the electoral reform.

Some of residents became so eager while interacting with one another, and were exceptionally pleased with the (CLEAR) and Internews conducting the election debates since 2017 general and presidential elections, afford them a platform to join the national conversation on electoral reform.

The forums lasted approximately three hours; and began with the moderator first providing the ‘big picture’ of electoral reform as a civic engagement exercise intended to get the views and recommendations of Liberians.

The dialogue took into consideration, the differences between constitutional, statutory and regulatory electoral reforms with two specific issues including election timeline and adjudication of complaints and grievances arising thereof.

Liberia’s current version of the constitution requires that elections are held on the second Tuesday in October of any election year at the immediate end of the rainy season. This means that all electoral activities, including campaigning, the movement of election materials and personnel, and voting take place under abject seasonal conditions posing major difficulty to the conduct of elections across the country.

“National infrastructure limitations and the fast encroaching effects of climate change further compound the logistical challenges of the season,” the participants recalled.

The NEC Code of Conduct states: “Challenges and complaints are assessed, investigated and determined, according to regulations and procedures,” forum participants strongly recommended the establishment of a separate court to handle electoral conflicts and related issues. Under the existing electoral legal and regulatory framework, NEC is both judge and jury in a time consuming process, including instances where their own procedures and activities are allegedly at fault or in questioned.