Monrovia — In the words of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to Liberia, Mr. Alan Doss, "it was a great day for Liberia." After six weeks of a mostly civil campaign that followed 15 years of civil conflict, Liberian voters went to the polls peacefully on Tuesday in presidential and legislative elections.
Lines to the polling centers started as early as 1:00am. Many people went to polling places to "reserve" a position in the queue by leaving a stone or a chair in line and returned around 6:00 to wait to cast their ballot. Lines were long, and the process started very slowly in some areas. In many instances, voting did not start on time because poll workers had to deal with multiple observers representing political parties, as well as news organs and international organizations.
Most of the candidates voted in their home areas. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf traveled to Tubmanburg, in Bomi County, while Varney Sherman cast his ballot in Robersport in Capemount. George Weah went to ELWA, a neighborhood near the SKD Stadium where he had his most glorious days as a footballer, and Charles Brumskine traveled to his hometown of Buchanan.
There were very few incidents throughout the day of the elections. In a few places, impatience and the heat combined with the slowness of the process leading voters to try to force their way inside. But the Liberian National police and the United Nation peacekeeping force quickly brought things under control. In a camp for displaced people near Monrovia, a man threatened to attack voters in line. A woman was arrested for attempting to vote twice.
In a Wednesday briefing, the National Elections Commission reported that the process of counting all ballots from the 3,070 polling stations throughout the country could take three to seven days, but the first partial results were released later in the day. These tallies from 39 polling places showed a tight contest between the standard bearer for the Unity Party, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with 24.6 percent, and George Weah, with 21.2. Charles Brumskine trailed with 10 percent.
The high rate of illiteracy in the country had a serious impact on the voting process. Many people who woke early to stand in line and who could not read instructions posted on the walls found out hours later that they were in the wrong place. The lack of electricity in places also complicated the process. Polls were scheduled to close at 6:00pm, but many remained open until 7:00 to cater to voters who were already in line.
The elections workers then had to start counting ballots in the dark - by candle light or flash light. Very few of the polling places had generators.
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According to preliminary results broadcast by the various radio stations that had dispatched correspondents throughout the country, Charles Brumskine has emerged as the new horse in what has so far seemed to be a two-person race between George Weah and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Alhaji Kromah of the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) has also scored big numbers in Lofa County. As results trickle down, the other surprises are the low turnout for Varney Sherman. Former warlord General Prince Johnson - who arrested and killed President Samuel Doe - stands to win a senatorial seat in Nimba County as an independent candidate. He had tried to run on the Unity Party ticket but was defeated in the party primary.
For the head of the transitional government, Gyude Bryant, the day turned out to be frustrating. The chairman and his entourage flew to his home town in Cavalla, in Maryland County aboard an United Nations helicopter, where upon arrival, he realized that he had had forgotten his voter registration card. Poll workers refused to make an exception, even for a head of state, so he walked away and returned to Monrovia without casting a vote.
