Some presidential and legislative aspirants in the pending general elections slated for October stand being disqualified from the process, following numerous challenges in their nomination papers by some organizations and individuals in the country.
However, the official listing of qualified candidates for the presidential and legislative will not be up until this Saturday, August 5, which will coincide with the commencement of official campaigning across the country.
NEC’s Chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah told state-owned broadcaster (BLCE) Super Morning Show (SMS) yesterday in Monrovia that there are tangible challenges in the nomination papers of scores of presidential and legislative aspirants.
She said, among many things, that the resolution of those dozen complaints could not be decided by the electoral regulator, rather it is for the court, on grounds that they are legal or constitutional matters which might be above the Commission.
Browne-Lansanah stated that because of these protests against some aspirants, the ongoing scrutinizing of nomination papers by the Commission, announcing the final listing of candidates, is being delayed, but notwithstanding, a partial final listing, whether presidential or legislative, shall be announced this Saturday, August 5, in league with the commencement of the official campaigning.
She then clarified that the commission has not approved any candidate, therefore, whatever was issued by the commission after the completion of registration was an “Acceptance Letter” and certified letter, qualifying aspirant for participation in the process until it is official.
Among the candidate registration requirements of a political party for the President and Vice President, a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship, likewise domicile/residency, tax clearance, Liberian passport, driver’s license, voter registration and national identification cards, are included.
Others are receipt showing payment for registration fee of US$2, 500 for President, and US$1, 500 for Vice President, bank statement showing deposit of US$10, 000 by the party, proof of indemnity or insurance bond of US$100, 000, notarized letter of authorization to verify bank account, and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond.
This also applies to the Senate of a political party, a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship, likewise domicile/residency, tax clearance, voter registration card, Liberian passport, driver’s license, and national identification cards.
Others are receipt showing payment for registration fee of US$750 for Senate, bank statement showing US$10,000 by the party, proof of indemnity or insurance bond of US$100,000, information on established office in the capital of the county, notarized letter of authorization to verify bank account, and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond.
The same goes to Representative of a political party, a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship, likewise domicile/residency, tax clearance, voter registration card, Liberian passport, driver’s license, and national identification cards.
Others are receipt showing payment for registration fee of US$500 for Representative by the party, proof showing US$10,000 by the party, proof of indemnity or insurance bond of US$100,000, information on established office in the capital of the county, notarized letter of authorization to verify bank account, and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond.
Interestingly, registration requirements for independent candidates, be it for President, Senate, or Representative, are tedious and uncompromising at the Commission, and this might have been the cause for some aspirants to have dropped from the process.
For independent requirement (President and Vice President), a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship likewise domicile/residency, tax clearance, Liberian passport, driver’s license, voter registration and national identification cards.
Others are receipt showing payment for registration fee of US$2,500 for President, and US$1,500 for Vice President, bank statement showing deposit of US$10,000 (President only), proof of residency in Liberia for the immediate 10 years preceding a general election in which he or she intends to contest, and minutes of meetings held (President only).
Other requirements are notarized petition listing of 500 qualified voters from each of at least six counties in the country (shall be arranged by county), including the names, age, genders, telephone(s) if applicable, addresses, voters identification card numbers, photograph, date and signatures or fingerprint(s), of the petitioners (President only); non-refundable processing fees for petition listing of US$800 (President only), proof of publication of petitioning listing in two reputable Liberian newspapers, concomitantly done in times new roman 12 point font size (President only); logo of the candidate on a Cassette Disc (CD) (President only).
Also needed is information on established office in the capital of the country and all counties (President only), and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond (President only).
While for independent requirement (Senate), a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship, sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to domicile/residency, tax clearance, voter registration card, Liberian passport, driver’s license, national identification card, receipt showing payment of registration fee of US$750 for Senate, and bank statement showing US$10,000 by the aspirant.
Others are proof of indemnity or insurance bond of US$100,000; notarized petition listing of 500 qualified voters for Senate in the county, including the names, age, genders, telephone number(s) if applicable, addresses, voters identification numbers, photograph, date, and signatures of fingerprint(s), of the petitioners.
Also required are non-refundable processing fees for petition listing of US$700.00; proof of publication of petitioning listing in two(s) reputable Liberian newspapers concomitantly done in times new roman 12 point front size; minutes of all meetings held; logo of the candidate on cassette disc (CD); candidate objective statement; information on established office in the capital of the county; notarized letter of authorization to verify bank account; and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond.
And independent candidate requirement (Representative) a sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to citizenship; sworn declaration or affidavit attesting to domicile/residency, tax clearance, voter registration card, Liberian passport, driver’s license, national identification card, receipt showing payment of registration fee of US$500 for Representative, and bank statement showing US$10,000 by the aspirant.
Others are proof of indemnity or insurance bond of US$100, 000, notarized petition listing of 300 qualified voters for Senate in the county, including the names, ages, genders, telephone number(s) if applicable, addresses, voters identification numbers, photograph, date, and signatures of fingerprint(s) of the petitioners.
Also required are non-refundable processing fees for petition listing of US$500.00, proof of publication of petitioning listing in two reputable Liberian newspapers, concomitantly done in times new roman 12 point font size, minutes of all meetings held, logo of the candidate on cassette disc (CD), candidate objective statement, information on established office in the capital of the district, notarized letter of authorization to verify bank account, and notarized letter of authorization to verify indemnity insurance bond.
