By Laymah Kollie
*MONROVIA, Liberia –* The Voices of the Elders of the Republic of Liberia, Inc. (VOTE R/L), has rejected moves to create additional electoral districts without first addressing constitutional requirements for setting a population threshold and reapportioning existing constituencies.
The group is calling on members of the 55th Legislature to prescribe a population threshold for electoral constituencies, arguing that the process must be guided by the 1986 Constitution to ensure fair representation and credible elections.
The position was contained in a press statement read by the group’s Chairperson, Madam Maureen Johnson-Hutchinson, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following an engagement with members of the Legislature.
VOTE R/L said lawmakers must act without further delay to determine the number of citizens required for a constituency to qualify for representation in the House of Representatives.
According to the group, setting the threshold would provide the legal basis for the National Elections Commission (NEC) to reapportion constituencies in line with population figures, rather than pursuing changes that could undermine equal representation.
Citing Article 80(d) of the 1986 Constitution, the organization noted that each electoral constituency should have an approximately equal population of 20,000 citizens, or such other number as may be prescribed by the Legislature in keeping with population growth and movement as revealed by a national census.
It also referenced Article 80(e), which requires the NEC, immediately following a national census and before the next elections, to reapportion constituencies in accordance with new population figures so that each constituency has, as nearly as possible, an equal population. The provision further requires that every constituency be located entirely within a single county.
VOTE R/L maintained that the Legislature’s prescription of a population threshold is a necessary step toward enabling the NEC to carry out its constitutional mandate and ensuring that electoral boundaries reflect the country’s population distribution.
The group also called on members of the House of Representatives to reconsider a decision reportedly taken on December 9, 2025, concerning the allocation of legislative seats among Liberia’s counties.
It argued that decisions on representation in the House should be consistent with constitutional provisions on population equality and constituency reapportionment.
VOTE R/L warned that failure to comply with the constitutional process could raise concerns about the legality and fairness of future elections, emphasizing that establishing the population benchmark and undertaking reapportionment must come before any changes to electoral representation.
*Background*
The Voices of the Elders of the Republic of Liberia, Inc. (VOTE R/L) is an organization that engages in public advocacy on national governance and constitutional issues. Through engagements with public officials and the Legislature, the group seeks to draw attention to matters it considers critical to democratic governance, constitutional compliance, and equitable political representation.
In its latest intervention, the organization urged lawmakers to prioritize the constitutional framework governing electoral constituencies, stressing that the distribution of seats in the House of Representatives should take into account population figures and the requirements for reapportionment.
The group expressed appreciation for the reception accorded its delegation by members of the Legislature and called for urgent action on the matter.
