MONROVIA: As the much-publicized Biometric Voters’ Registration (BVR) process kicks off Monday, March 20, 2023, the National Civil Society of Liberia (NCSCL), has urged Liberians of voting age (18 years or above ) to turn out for the registration process by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The NCSCL is the apex body of all civil society organizations in the country.
As eligible Liberian voters get set to go to the polls on October 10, 2023, in consonance with Article 77 (b) of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, the National Elections Commission (NEC), on Monday, March 20, 2023, began phase one of the BVR process for the first six counties.
The six counties include: Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Bassa, and Montserrado.
Phase One will run from 20 March to April 9. Phase Two will run from 21 April to 11 May with the rest of the other nine counties.
The Council, in a statement, carved under the signature of its Chairperson, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, urged Liberians of voting ages to turn out in their numbers during the registration period to exercise their civil franchise.
NCSCL maintains that owing to the importance of participating in the growth and development of the country, eligible Liberian voters should take up the responsibility to form part of the ensuing elections.
The Council indicates that the pending elections are a major test to the nation’s democracy since the end of its brutal civil war that spanned a decade, and as such, Liberians must firstly get registered and vote for the candidates of their choice.
During the impending electoral process, Liberian voters will troop to all 2,080 voting precincts or 5,911 voting centers to vote for a President/Vice President, 73 Representatives and 15 Senators, whose tenures of offices would expire in October this years.
“The National Civil Society Council hereby calls on the NEC to ensure that the process is holistic participatory and void of interference,” a statement issued by the group said.
The chairperson of the CSO group emphasizes the need for stakeholders to revisit the “Farmington Declaration” because, “there are early warning signs of violence.”
She also stressed that “election is not worn or have issue only on Election Day, but the entire electoral circles should be systematic and in adherence to the rule of law.
Additionally, she encourages the NEC to take due coincident of the emerging issues that have been raised by citizens.
Among the issues being raised by citizens include claims that a reduction has been made in the number of precinct in some districts.
Such claims are being sourced from the list of precinct/VR Centers that was released to the public few days ago by NEC.
The CSO group observes that if this situation is not handled with care, it might cost some distractions of the entire process.
It stressed that adequate information sharing should be the hallmark of the NEC and the NEC should ensure that no Liberians of voting age should be disenfranchised from their right to participate in the elections due to the long-distances they had to travel.
At the same time, the Council called on the NEC to provide regular updates of the BVR process and all other processes leading to the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
The Council appreciated all development partners for standing with, and supporting Liberia thus far
