By Bill W. Cooper
The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne Lansanah, has disclosed that the government has made available the amount in full for the conduct of the two by-elections scheduled to be held in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties.
Madam Lansanah said the funds, in the tune of US$2,026,588.50 was made available to the commission recently, by the government through the Ministry of Finance, as part of the government’s commitment to upholding fair and inclusive elections throughout the two counties.
The by-elections, set to take place in this month, was necessitated by a vacancy left by Jeremiah Koung, now Vice President and the death of Grand Gedeh County District 1 Representative-elect, Madison Gwon due to illness.
Article 37 of the Liberian Constitution mandates the Commission to conduct a by-election within the period of 90 days to fill-up the vacant seats to ensure that those seats are filled in the House of Representatives and Liberian Senate.
The NEC chairperson added that the funds will further enable the NEC to cater to various aspects of the by-elections, including voter education, logistics, security, and overall administration.
Meanwhile, the full ballot papers for the Nimba County Senatorial and Grand Gedeh County District 1 Representative By-elections are now in the country in keeping within the commission’s operational plan and electoral guidelines.
Madam Lansanah informed the news conference that the ballot papers came into the country on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from Ghana, via the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County.
Giving the breakdown of the total ballot papers in the country, the NEC Chairperson narrated that 413,050 ballots were printed for the Nimba County senatorial by-election while 26,400 ballots were also printed for the Grand Gedeh County District 1 Representative by-election respectively.
According to her, the ballots also arrived along with other materials, including the record of count forms, and tactile ballot, as they are currently being stored secretly under the protection of state securities.
The NEC boss further noted, “The packaging of materials in NEC central warehouse is on course and nearing completion, especially with the arrival of the ballots. Deployment of ballot papers and other sensitive materials and non-sensitive election materials to Nimba and Grand Gedeh commenced yesterday.”
She also announced the training of the temporary staff for the by-election and electoral supervisors which she said ends yesterday, reiterating that the closure of the political campaign will end on April 20, 2024, at midnight.
Lansanah said in Nimba, the Commission is organizing the polls for 307,254 registered voters at 262 precincts comprising 736 polling places, as it requires 3,846 polling staff to man the polls.
While in Grand Gedeh there are 20,407 registered voters and 11 precincts comprising 46 polling places which requires 243 polling staff, pointing out that in both counties, the staff will be deployed immediately following training.
