By H Matthew Turry
Liberia’s National Elections Commission accelerates preparation for the conduct of a senatorial by election in the vote-rich Nimba region and a seat in the House of Representatives for Grand Gedeh County.
The authorities have provided $2 million United States dollars to the Commission to execute the process while ballot materials have arrived the country from neighbouring Ghana, NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah told reporters Monday in Monrovia.
More than 320,000 registered voters are expected to cast ballot on poling day scheduled for April 23.
Electoral materials were printed in the following categories and quantities – Nimba Senatorial By-Elections: 413,050 Ballots and Grand Gedeh District #1 Representative vote: 26,400 ballots. Other materials including the Record of the Count Forms, and Tactile Ballot Guide.
“The packaging of materials in NEC Central Warehouse is on course and nearing completion. Deployment of ballot papers and other sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to Nimba County and Grand Gedeh District #1 commences today[Monday April 15],” she said.
“Training for temporary staff for the By-elections is on-going, and training for electoral supervisors in all locations will be concluded today, 15 April 2024.
Political campaign for the 2024 Senatorial By-Election in Nimba County and District #1 Representative By-Election in Grand Gedeh commenced on 4 April 2024 and will end on 20 April 2024 at midnight.
NEC Chairperson: “The Commission informs all stakeholders that all accreditation taps for party agents will be issued at the Commission’s offices in Nimba and Grand Gedeh beginning Wednesday, 17 April 2024, and all observer institutions including the media wishing to observe these By-Elections have up to Thursday, 18 April 2024 to request for accreditation.
“The Commission formally launched the civic and voter education activities for the by-elections simultaneously in both counties on March 22, 2024 during which time the NEC began the distribution of CVE materials to citizens in Nimba and District #1 in Grand Gedch. Prior to CVE launch, all nine CVE Cells in Nimba and the One Cell in District #1 Grand Gedeh were activated by the NEC, educating and informing citizens in both counties about the by-elections.
“Additionally, more CVE and Gender outreach materials (posters, flyers, t-shirts, caps, banners, etc.) and NEC personnel continued to be deployed to Nimba and Grand Gedeh to support outreach activities for the by elections.
The Commission is organizing the polls for 307,254 registered voters at 262 precincts, comprising 736 polling places, and it requires 3,846 polling staff to man the polls in Nimba.
For District #1, Grand Gedeh County, there are 20.407 registered voters and 11 precincts comprising 46 polling places, which requires 243 polling staff.
There are a total of four senatorial candidates in Nimba, all of whom are males, and Grand Gedeh District #1 has fifteen candidates 12 males and 3 females”.
