The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), the Liberia Election Observation Network (LEON), and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Liberia) in a joint press release said that the just ended Nimba County Senatorial By Election was peaceful with two notable instances of incidents reported.
The civil society said, observers reported that voting commenced on time, having all essential voting materials available. There was an adequate deployment of security officers throughout all electoral districts of Nimba, in addition to party agents and other observers deployed to observe the process.
According to the group, arrival reports indicate that all observers were permitted to access and observe at their assigned polling places. Observers generally reported that voting commenced on time. At 8:00 am, observers reported that nearly all polling places had opened for voting and the remaining observed polling places opened between 8-8: 30 am.
Additionally, in nearly all observed polling places, party and other candidates’ agents were present at the opening of the polls.
ECC, LEON and WANEP commend parties and candidates for the adequate deployment of agents to observe the voting and counting processes.
ECC and LEON observers reported that all observed polling places had the required sensitive voting materials, including the final registration roll, ballot papers, indelible ink, the official ballot stamp, tactile ballot guide and the accounting forms.
Additionally, an average of five NEC staff were present with two women polling officials serving on each team during the set-up. ECC and LEON observers also noted the presence of other observers, including international observers and media representatives at the opening of polls.
Observers also reported that in 27% of observed polling places, voters needed to use stairs to access the polling area, which potentially poses a challenge to persons with disabilities or the elderly.
Finally, in all observed polling places, the ballot box was shown to be empty and properly sealed before voting began.
Voting Process
After the set-up and opening of polls, ECC and LEON observers remained stationary at their assigned polling places throughout the day to observe the voting, closing and counting of results.
At observed polling places, observers witnessed NEC staff generally following voting procedures and there was no problem with queue control due to the slow pace at which voters turned out to vote.
Observers generally witnessed the consistent stamping of ballot papers before being handed to the voter and the availability of voting booths in all observed polling places, which guaranteed the secrecy of the vote.
In all polling places observed, voters were asked to present their voter registration (VR) card before being allowed to vote. Also, both ECC and LEON observers noted that NEC polling staff consistently inked voters’ fingers after voting, in all observed places.
Overall, polling places observed were peaceful throughout the day, with only two incidents of tension and late opening reported in Nimba electoral district 1 and 8 respectively. Observers also noted the presence of national security officers in nearly all observed polling places and the professional manner in which they conducted themselves. ECC, LEON and WANEP again commend the professional conduct of security officers during the voting process.
In 28% of observed polling places, there were still voters waiting in the queue at 6:00pm to vote, which indicates the late turn out of some voters during the day. In these instances, voters waiting in line were allowed to vote. Generally, polling places closed between 6-6:30 pm before the counting began.
ECC and LEON observers reported that there were party agents, representatives of the media and other observer groups present during the counting at observed polling places. At all observed polling places, all party agents approved and signed the result form and there was no complaint filed by agents who observed the counting. Finally, observers reported adequate lighting during the counting in all observed polling places and the presiding officer posted a copy of the result on the wall at the completion of the count.
