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Ganta, Nimba County: A women-led election observation group has declared Liberia’s Nimba County senatorial by-election generally peaceful but identified significant accessibility challenges that nearly derailed voting in some areas and created hardships for vulnerable groups.
The Project Accountable Safe Space (PASS), a coalition of women’s organizations funded by Irish Aid and the Liberia Elections Support Project, deployed 18 trained female observers across all nine electoral districts to monitor Tuesday’s special election to replace the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson.
Smooth Process With Isolated Challenges
PASS reported that 95% of polling centers opened on time, with orderly queues and adequate security presence. However, voting was temporarily halted at St. Matthew’s Church in Venn District when residents protested the National Elections Commission’s (NEC) use of the private facility without community consultation.
“The standoff lasted nearly two hours before NEC officials negotiated access,” said PASS field coordinator Aminata Sheriff. “While resolved peacefully, it highlights the need for better community engagement in polling place selection.”
Lack of Basic Facilities
Behind the peaceful atmosphere, observers documented critical shortcomings: No designated voting areas for pregnant women or persons with disabilities, Insufficient lighting at 30% of polling places, potentially compromising vote counting, Complete absence of menstrual hygiene facilities at all locations, and Limited toilet access forcing some women to abandon voting queues.
“Seeing elderly women and pregnant mothers standing for hours without seating or sanitation isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s discriminatory,” noted PASS gender specialist Comfort Fahnbulleh. “These conditions effectively disenfranchise vulnerable voters.”
Security Success Story
The coalition confirmed zero incidents of Voter intimidation or harassment, Gender-based violence, Party agent interference, and Attempted ballot fraud.
“This represents real progress in electoral conduct,” said NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, who welcomed PASS’s findings.
PASS issued urgent recommendations for future elections: Accessibility mandates for all polling places, Emergency lighting provisions for night operations, Expanded voter education programs, Streamlined incident reporting systems, 72-hour resolution timeline for complaints and Mandatory hygiene facilities at voting centers
