Monrovia, Liberia -The Elections Coordinating Committee has made a nine -count recommendations reforming the election laws and improve the internal democratization in the country.
ECC’s Chairman, Counselor Oscar Bloh, proposed that the Act that created the Governance Commission be amended to give the GC the oversight of the operations of political parties including registration, resolution of intra-party grievances, nomination of candidates and financial resources and management.
Counselor Bloh made the recommendations when the Elections Coordinating Committee released its official publication on final technical observation reports and findings in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections in Monrovia on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
To ensure increased women’s participation, the ECC resolution added that the National election law should be amended to it mandatory for political parties , coalition or alliances to have not less that 30 percent of either gender on their list for the nomination of candidates.
The government established an escrow account one year before the conduct of the next general election where resources can be disbursed ahead of these elections so that activities are implemented by NEC in a timely manner.
According to Mr. Bloh, the National Legislature should use the latest census report to set the threshold in order for the national Elections Commission to use for the delimitation of electoral constituency boundaries.
The ECC also suggested decentralizing candidate registration so that candidates need not physically visit Monrovia in order to register to run in future elections.
“In order to promote and strengthen issue-based campaigns and lessen the culture of personality politics that has characterized Liberia’s political process, particularly during the election period, the NEC amends the campaign regulation to make debates mandatory, specifically for presidential candidates.”
Counselor Bloh added that the electoral authorities ought to get closer to implementing a passive over registration system, which would register voters automatically at reaching voting age or upon moving. The ECC recommended that vote buying be made an electoral offense with a clearly defined penalty by amending the national electoral law.
The committee’s recommendation states that transparency in aspirant nomination and registration is desired in order to allow electoral observation groups to monitor all phases of the nomination process and independently confirm that candidates meet all requirements set forth by national electoral laws.
In order to make sure that voting precincts can accommodate voters with physical disabilities and those who are blind or visually impaired, the ECC also required that NEC carry out a thorough evaluation of each precinct’s physical infrastructure.
In order to improve monitoring and enforcement of campaign finance laws and regulations, the electoral observation body is also requesting an amendment to the campaign finance regulation. This amendment would require the NEC to establish strategic partnerships with other government agencies, private banks, and financial intelligence units in order to share information and work together on cooperative initiatives.
In accordance with Article 81C of the Liberian Constitution, ECC requests that NEC conduct an audit of the funds and financial transactions of all political parties and independent candidates.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
