-Democracy International Preliminary Post-Election Statement reveals
Following its observation during the recently ended presidential and legislative elections- Democracy International, an international development organization based in the United States says most stations their observers visited, the percentage of women and youth voters and poll workers was high.
In its Preliminary Post-Election Statement dated October 14, 2023- the international body that provides analytical services, technical assistance, and project implementation for democracy and governance programs worldwide- hails the women’s commitment and also acclaimed
Candidates—particularly women and others from under-represented communities—who offered to serve by putting their names forward for consideration by the electorate.
“In most stations visited, the percentage of women and youth voters and poll workers was high. DI observed only one instance of inappropriate campaign activities at a polling station and only one location where campaign materials were within 100 meters of the stations visited. At locations that did not open on time, some voters became impatient and expressed frustration by shouting or pushing others to maintain or move forward in the lines.
Also in its preliminary findings- DI’s election observers found that Election Day was predominantly peaceful, and the NEC polling staff, party agents, and security forces were generally professional.
“The polling stations our observers visited experienced significant voter turnout at the poll opening time, with voters displaying notable enthusiasm to cast their ballots.”
Despite the large turnout, “voting took place mainly in an orderly, calm, and peaceful environment, with no incidents of violence reported throughout the day. The civic voter education conducted over the past 12 months, particularly during the campaign period by the NEC and its partners, may have contributed to the turnout and the peaceful environment and merits further examination.”
The International NGO says half the polling stations their observers visited opened at 8:00 a.m. and the other half within the first 30 minutes of the official poll opening time. At the polling stations our observers visited, sufficient NEC staff members were present, showed a good understanding of the opening procedures, and followed the required steps.”
“Party agents and local and international observers were present in large numbers at the stations visited, often as many as a dozen in each station in a single precinct. (Given its support of the NEC’s Party Agent Training of Trainers DI was pleased to see this high degree of interest from political parties and independent candidate agents).”
DI continues- “Although this high degree of participation likely contributed to transparency, the large numbers of people present in stations, especially at the beginning of the day, added to the challenges of efficiently managing the polling stations and sometimes slowed the opening process as NEC staff responded to party agent and observer questions. The NEC staff demonstrated professionalism and accommodated these agents and observers effectively. Despite the large crowds of voters in the sometimes small, dark locations used for balloting, DI observers did not observe any significant incidents during the day and reported a requisite, appropriate security presence in all but one station.”
“The polling stations our observers visited closed the voting queue on time, with an average of 20 minutes of additional voting time to accommodate voters remaining in the queue at 6:00 p.m. The NEC staff followed the closing procedures strictly, and the behavior of the party agents, still present in large numbers, was also commendable.”
DI says it observed that some of the stations visited were inaccessible to persons with disabilities, making it difficult for them to participate meaningfully. At the accessible stations, tensions arose with other voters already in the queues when elderly individuals, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities were given priority in the voting process. It appeared that some voters were unaware or unsupportive of the need to accommodate these voters. On the other hand, in almost every station. DI witnessed those requiring assistance to vote receiving that support according to the electoral provisions. DI noted that all precincts visited had tactile ballot sleeves available, and we observed them in use twice. (Given DI’s support for NEC training on using tactile ballots for persons with disabilities across Liberia, seeing this in action was gratifying).”
“Most of the challenges faced by the NEC in effectively managing these elections can be attributed to managing Liberia’s infrastructure challenges (state of the roads, public buildings, phone/internet, light, and electricity) and operating within the limited funding available. DI will continue to observe the post-election process through and after the announcement of the election results. A final report will be issued upon the completion of the entire process. DI’s observer mission findings and lessons learned through a series of post-election assessments will contribute to DI’s ongoing work with the National Elections Commission and DI’s civil society and legislative partners in advancing the participation of marginalized groups and in support of civic education.”
Meanwhile- DI congratulates the people of Liberia for their remarkable turnout during this significant moment, the National Election Commission (NEC) for successfully delivering its first fully independent election since the country’s recent civil wars, the NEC staff for diligently conducting their duties, and the candidates—particularly women and others from under-represented communities—who offered to serve by putting their names forward for consideration by the electorate.
Following a largely violence-free election day, DI urges all Liberians, including political parties and candidates, to remain calm and peaceful while waiting for the NEC to announce the election results and through the formal complaints process that will follow, if required.
For the 2023 General Elections for President, Senate, and House of Representatives in Liberia, DI fielded a specialized observation mission of international and Liberian citizens, led by Stephanie Lynn, Chief of Party of DI’s Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA) and accredited by the NEC.
The mission deployed 25 mobile observers to six counties (Bomi, Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba) in 19 of the country’s 73 electoral districts. This preliminary statement summarizes the key findings from observer reports covering 67 polling precincts (102 polling places), including 22 polling station openings and 11 polling station closings (where observers returned to the same station they observed at the opening). DI observers did not remain in any stations through the completion of the count. DI observers received unfettered access to observe throughout the mission.
DI has worked in Liberia for two years and has conducted two previous specialized election observations, for by-elections in November 2021 and June 2022. During the current election observation mission, DI engaged directly with domestic election observers ECC and LEON and multiple other observer missions, including most closely with EISA; participated in the U.S Embassy election control room; connected with the NEC Data Center and Tally Center; and visited the Angie Brookes Foundation Women’s Situation Room and Integrity Watch Liberia’s Political Party Campaign Finance Tracking activity. DI maintained regular contact with its network of over 30 Liberian CSOs and CBOs nationwide through the pre-election and election periods.
Liberia has 2,471,617 registered voters choosing from among 46 political parties and hundreds of independent candidates on the ballots, at 5,890 polling stations in 2,080 polling precincts. The NEC reported that voting – delayed in some stations in two Sinoe County precincts due to a flooded river preventing voting on October 10 – concluded on October 13, 2023.
The Elections and Democracy Activity is a five-year, USAID-funded project designed to help Liberia overcome challenges facing its developing democracy by fostering inclusive, sustain- able, democratic political development. Implemented by DI, EDA is cultivating a new cadre of accountable, diverse, inclusive leaders in Liberia to govern in the interest of their constituents as well as active, knowledgeable citizens that demand accountability.
EDA works with the Government of Liberia and civil society organizations to achieve this through three inter- related objectives:
(1) Increase leadership of marginalized groups in political processes,
(2) Improve civic knowledge and sense of civic duty, (3) Advance self-reliance of the National Election Commission and civil society organizations to independently manage and observe all stages of the electoral cycle.
Democracy International is an international development organization based in the United States that provides analytical services, technical assistance, and project implementation for democracy and governance programs worldwide. Since its founding in 2003, DI has worked in 80 countries and has conducted election observation missions and election assistance pro- grams in Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Haiti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia, Mozambique, Pakistan, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tunisia, among other places.
Democracy International is a signatory to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers and has conducted its mission in accordance with these principles, which provide, among other things, that election observers must be independent and impartial, uphold the values of democratic government, and respect the national sovereignty of the host country. In accordance with the Declaration of Principles, DI has observed all phases of the election process, including the legal context and political environment for the election and the procedures for the balloting and counting on the election days.
