Democracy International (DI) announced today that with USAID support it is again deploying its specialized observation mission by sending 22 observers to witness the 2023 Presidential run-off Elections in Liberia on November 14, 2023.DI observers will deploy to six counties (Bomi, Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba) and anticipate visiting 21 of the country’s 73 districts.
Nearly two million Liberians voted on October 10, 2023, in the General Elections for President, Senate, and House of Representatives. With no candidates receiving the required 50% plus one to win in the first round, the National Elections Commission called a run-off for November 14, 2023, per constitutional provision.
This deployment follows DI’s successful observation of 25 accredited observers to 19 districts in six counties on October 10, 2023, to monitor the first round and its deployment of three observers during the re-run conducted on October 20, 2023, in Beo Lontuo, Nimba. The Commission re-ran the election in two stations to address the theft and destruction of the presidential ballot boxes and damage to the other ballots in that polling place.
DI issued statements following these two deployments congratulating Liberians on their high turn-out (78.8%) – the vast majority of whom did so peacefully and with respect for the process – and commending the Liberian National Elections Commission and its 30,000-plus poll workers for their professional conduct. These achievements are significant given the challenges of mitigating environmental challenges, such as floods, and infrastructure conditions, including poor roads, limited or no electricity, and limited private and public building options to use as polling stations.
The Commission is to be particularly commended for doing so fully independently for the first time since the civil wars, having successfully introduced the country to Biometric Voter Registration earlier this year, lauded by independent voter roll auditors.
The DI observation mission continues to demonstrate international support for the Liberian people in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The mission also contributes to DI’s ongoing work in Liberia, including with the National Elections Commission and the Election Coordinating Committee, a leading Liberian election observation group. DI works closely with Liberian organizations to encourage greater participation of marginalized groups, including women and youth, and deliver voter education nationwide. DI is organizing this mission in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, declared at the United Nations in 2005.
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, sustainable, 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 interrelated 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 provides analytical services, technical assistance, and project implementation for democracy and governance programs worldwide. Since its founding in 2003, DI has worked in conducted election observation missions and election assistance programs in Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia, Haiti, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tunisia, Pakistan, South Africa, 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.
