-NEC says it’s prepared for tomorrow’s elections
By Jerromie S. Walters
As Liberia’s 2023 legislative and presidential elections will be held in hours to come, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC)- Madam Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah has disclosed that all preparatory activities are on course for the conduct of the elections.
During a news conference on Monday, October 9, 2023, at the National Elections Commission (NEC) headquarters in Sinkor- Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah says electoral materials have been deployed to all 19 magisterial areas in the 15 counties of Liberia. Also, temporary electoral staff have been trained and assigned to their respective polling places.
“Members of the press, the purpose of this election eve, maiden edition of the daily press briefings is also to inform Liberians and other stakeholders that all preparatory activities are on course for the conduct of the Presidential and Legislative Elections tomorrow, 10 October 2023.”
She continues- “Polling staff have started the deployment of electoral materials to the 5,890 polling places within the 2,080 precincts in preparation for the beginning of the polls at 8:00 am on Tuesday, 10 Oetober 2023.”
As the elections will be conducted in the next 11-12 hours, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah tells Liberians that the right to vote is one of the most cherished rights Liberians enjoy, as such- electorate across the country must turn out at the various polling places to peacefully cast their ballots for their respective candidates on Tuesday. 10 October 2023.
“I therefore urge all of the Two Million Four Hundred Seventy-one Thousand Six Hundred Seventeen (2,47 1,617) registered voters across the country to turn out at their various polling places to peacefully cast their ballots for their respective candidates on Tuesday. 10 October 2023.”
At the same time, the NEC condemns all violence that have occurred during the campaign period, 5 August-8 Oetober 2023. “The Commission calls on all Liberian to condemn such violence and urges all Liberians to work towards fostering peaceful co-cxistence during this electoral period and beyond.”
With respect to security arrangements for the elections, the Commission says it continues to work with the joint security in finalizing security arrangements for the 10
October 2023 General Elections. “Let me use this medium to thank the Ministry of Justice and the security apparatus for providing security to the Commission since the beginning of the electoral process and during the deployment of electoral materials to the field.”
Madam Lansanah states- “In closing, the Commission again thanks and assures political leaders as well as all Liberians, all stakeholders and electoral actors that the NEC remains committed to conducting the 10 October 2023 Elcctions in a free, fair and credible manner, as it has been the hallmark of this institution.”
Furthermore, she says- “At these daily press briefings, the Commission will announce preliminary results beginning at 4:30 pm, 11 October 2023 in this hall and throughout the 15-day period provided for by law within which the final results of the 10 October 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections shall be announced.”
