By Festus Poquie
The National Elections Commission has overcome technical and operational glitches associated with its biometric system and is now registering over 100,000 people daily.
Registration of Liberians 18 years and above indicates that an average of 100 Liberians are being registered at each of the 1065 registrations per day in the phase one counties of Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi and Montserrado counties, NEC Chairperson Davidetta Brown Lansanah told political parties leaders and Civil Society organizations Friday in Monrovia.
An estimated 426,000 voters may have already registered based on the elections body’s average daily rate, according to the Oracle News calculations.
“The Commission has observed the enthusiasm from Liberians including first time voters, in long queues at the various registration centers,” She said.
“NEC appreciates the people of Liberia for the great interest they have in the conduct of biometric voter registration in Liberia. This is indicative in the high turnout to be registered.”
US technology company, Laxton Group is managing Liberia’s first ever biometric voter registration system.
Presidential and legislative campaign period for the 2023 General Elections commences August 52023, ending on October 8.2023, two days before polling starts. Final elections results will be announced October 25.
The opposition Collaborating political Parties is challenging the registration process in court on grounds NEC did not map new electoral boundaries.
President George Weah is seeking reelection at the 2023 polls, barely six years after his 2017 win was challenged on accounts that the National Elections Commission carried out widespread fraud and irregularities. The Supreme Court said in a ruling the fraud was not egregious to overturn the elections results.
US Ambassador to Liberia Michael McCarthy said in a December 9, open letter Individual sanctions would applied under the Global Magnitsky Act in months leading to the October polls should the goal of transparency, free, credible and peaceful elections is wanting.
