By Bill W. Cooper
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has set April 23 and 24respectively, 2024 as the date for the legislative by-elections in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties.
The by-election for the Nimba Senatorial race is aimed at filling the vacancy created by the ascendancy of Jeremiah Koung to Vice president of Liberia.
While the Grand Gedeh County by-election comes as a result of the death of Representative Erol Madison Gwion, who won his reelection during the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Representative elections.
Making the pronouncement over the weekend, NEC Chairperson, Davidetta Brown-Lansanah, said the House and Senate have both notified the Commission about the vacancies.
She explained that in both communications, the Senate and House emphasized that the letters notifying the Commission about the two vacancies constituted sufficient authority to conduct the by-elections, in line with Article 37 of the Constitution.
Article 37 states: “In the event of vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion, or otherwise, the presiding officer shall, within 30 days, inform the NEC, and the NEC shall, not later than 90 days thereafter, cause a by-election to be held.”
According to her, following the receipt of the notifications, the Commission immediately began initial planning activities to conduct the two by-elections.
She emphasized, “In so doing, the budget for the by-elections has been drafted and is currently being reviewed by the Board of Commissioners. The Writ of Elections has been issued also to the concerned election magistrates.”
She also narrated that 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. As for Grand Gedeh County District 1, there are 20,407 registered voters and 11 precincts, comprising 46 polling places, which requires 243 polling staff.
The Commission is currently involved in a number of post 2023 electoral activities, to include the process of documenting lessons learned from the 2023 General Elections and legal reform,” she noted.
