The Inquirer (Monrovia)
4 May 2005
More Than 280,000 Registered; NTLA Calls for Extension
A total of 280,950 eligible Liberians have so far registered to vote in the presidential and general elections scheduled for October 2005.
Giving an update on the voters' registration since it commenced on 25 April 2005 in the country, the National Election Commission (NEC) said, based on figures received from the field as of April 30, the 280,950 eligible Liberians so far registered present 18.7 percent of the estimated 1.5 million potential voters.
According to the statistics released by NEC, based on estimates and trends to date, it would appear that 44 percent of all registrants are reported to be below 30 years of age, while less than 30 percent of the figures are women. The strongest turnouts so far have been in Margibi, Grand Bassa, Upper Bong, Upper Nimba and Monserrado counties.
NEC, however, clarified that these numbers are incomplete, as data from some centers had not been received and processed at the close of business on Saturday, and figures for the last two days ( 2 and 3 May, 2005) are still being processed.
Briefing journalists yesterday at NEC offices in Sinkor, the Commission's chairman, Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris said, from the statistics, NEC has observed that women are not fully participating in the voters' registration exercise, adding "we need to do more civil and voter education for women. The men are taking part in the process."
Cllr. Morris noted that out of 1,511 voters' registration centers set up throughout the country, 1,039 centers are opened and functioning.
She cited bad road condition as being responsible for the inaccessibility to the remaining 472 voters' centers in the leeward parts of the country.
On the issue of voter registration centers not being located in all areas of Liberia, and that eligible voters have to walk several hours before reaching some of the centers, the NEC Chairperson said, "we are doing something about that, we're doing something with our partners.
Maybe instead of our people walking to go to voters' registration centers that are far away from them, election workers will now go to places that are inaccessible to get Liberians register. One of our partners, IFES has provided the funding to pay people who will have to walk hours, taking election materials on their heads, to places that are inaccessible. Liberians who are doing this are loyal, committed, patriotic and nationalistic.
"Ethnicity is creeping in the voters' registration process. Some of our brothers and sisters from the Mandingo tribe are complaining that they are being rejected outrightly. Most of our registrars are refusing to register people based on their names. We want to call on our registrars in this public manner to be tolerant, understanding and careful with the process. We cannot allow this ugly act to mark the process. We know that Mandingoes make up one of the 16 tribes of Liberia. We know it is difficult to differentiate between the Mandingoes from Liberia from Mandingoes from Guinea. It is not the policy of NEC to target any particular tribe. Anyone that the election registrar is not satisfied with, such person should be asked to show a passport, birth certificate or be identified by elders from his or her community."
Meanwhile, addressing NTLA members on prevailing conditions which many believe might hinder the general and presidential elections scheduled in October, NEC chairperson Cllr. Morris outlined key issues that need keen attention, though she stated clearly that there has been no error in the process.
Cllr. Morris' comment before the assembly members in session yesterday, prompted them to put forth situations encountered by citizens of their respective constituencies, that is obstacles and failures of the NEC and the International Community in the process leading to a free, fair and transparent elections.
They contended that the issue of low turnout of women in the registration process is due to the deplorable road conditions, the failure of NEC's mobileteam to reach inaccessible areas in the leeward counties, the UN involvement of local county authorities in some counties and the need to create more centers, are all clear evidences that the timeframe for the elections need to be extended.
They said at first, the NEC and the International Community misled the public into pressurizing the assembly to pass into law the reform electoral bill, that is apparently a recipe for confusion. They said, now that obstacles that may hinder the electoral process have begun to be seen, it is time that the assembly calls for a public hearing to get the views of the citizens and adequately inform them so that they will not lend credence to an "unfair, unfree and unserious elections."
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