Monrovia, Liberia—The National Elections Commission (NEC), on Friday, certified and accredited over 400 civil society organizations (CSOs), including faith-based and community-based organizations, to provide voter education during the 2023 general elections in Liberia.
The Civic and Voter Education (CVE) Section of the Commission says these civic society organizations have expressed interest in helping the NEC carry out CVE activities for the 2023 General Elections, slated for October 10, 2023.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairperson of NEC, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, said the certification process of civil society organizations testifies to the Commission’s willingness to collaborate with the civil society organizations to ensure effective and efficient information dissemination to the public on the electoral process.
A statement from NEC issued Friday, 27 January 2023, Madam Browne Lansanah said, the Commission appreciates the long term partnership with the Civil Society, Community Based, and Faith Based Organizations throughout the country.
The NEC boss said that partnerships over the years with CSOs have strengthened the CVE component of the Commission, increased the electoral knowledge of the citizens, and encouraged more Liberians to participate in all of the electoral processes.
Some of the civil society organizations certified Friday were the West Africa Peace Building Network (WAPNET), the YMCA, the Flomo Theater Group, the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia, and the Civil Society Organizations Network of Liberia.
At the same time, the National Elections Commission, with funding from the Government of Liberia, has commissioned 31 new twin-cab Toyota pickups for use during the 2023 general elections and the pending biometric voter registration exercise beginning March 20, 202, and ending May 11, 2023.
Howbeit, the National Elections Commission (NEC), on Thursday, January 26, 2023, ended a one-day Electoral Stakeholders Dialogue ahead of the 2023 General Elections in Bentol City, rural Montserrado County.
The 2023 NEC stakeholders dialogue was held under the theme “Taking Elections to the People,” with over eighty participants representing civil society organizations and traditional and local government authorities. The colorful program was organized by the NEC Magisterial Office in Bentol and held at the Administrative Building.
The National Elections Commission Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, addressed the forum, challenging them to come out in mass to register in the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise, beginning March 20, 2023, and ending May 11, 2023. The NEC boss wants all Liberians 18 and older to turn out and be registered, adding that no one should make them afraid of the process.
Welcoming the NEC delegation and speaking on behalf of Montserrado County Superintendent Florence F. Brandy and the City Mayor of Bentol, Madam Martha K. Woheel assured the NEC that the voter education messages will be spread fully across the city by all local government authorities, including the Chiefs, Paramount and Clan Chiefs, and Commissioners.
Seminar electoral stakeholder’s dialogues for the 2023 General Elections as well as the pending Biometric Voter Registration exercise, beginning 20 March 2023 and ending 11 May 2023 were conducted across the country by other Commissioners of NEC.
Other members of the Chairperson’s delegation were Sam B. Cole, Deputy Executive Director for Administration; Prince Dunbar, Deputy Communications Director; and Augustus Howard, Liaison to the Chairperson, Lewis Mulbah, the assigned LNP officer, and Sam Howe, the chauffeur.
