Talking Points
Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris
Chair of the National Elections Commission
NEC Successfully Concludes Exhibition of Provisional Voters’ Roll
The exhibition of the preliminary voters’ roll was successfully conducted from 30 June to 2 July 2005 despite adverse weather conditions. The turnout in most places was reported to be good.

The NEC with support from the UNMIL Electoral Division is in the process of obtaining information regarding the number of claims and challenges that were reported in the various counties. At this stage, however, the numbers are thought to be minimal. The retrieval of exhibition kits from the centers to the county headquarters commenced immediately following the conclusion of exhibition.

Elections Commission Issues Six More Political Parties With Certificates Of Registration

Yesterday, 4 July, the National Elections Commission issued six more political parties with certificates of registration. The six parties are the Reformed United Liberia Party (RULP); Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia (FAPL);National Vision Party (NATVIPOL); Liberia Destiny Party (LDP); Independent Democratic Party (IDP); and the Progressive Democratic Party (PRODEMP).

On 31 May the NEC issued four more political parties with certificates of registration. They were the National Party of Liberia (NLP); Liberia Education and Development Party (LEAD); the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Union of Liberian Democrats (ULD). On 19 May the Liberty Party (LP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) were also issued certificates of registration.

When a party receives a certificate of registration it means that it has been officially recognized as a legal entity that has the privilege of participating in activities reserved for such entities – elections being one example in this case. These 12 additions in the last three weeks join 18 other political that were signatories to the August 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreements who were already issued with certificates of registration. The total number of parties registered is now 30.

[They other 18 parties are the True Whig Party (TWP); United People’s Party (UPP); Liberia People’s Party (LPP); National Patriotic Party (NPP); Reformation Alliance Party (RAP); People’s Democratic Party of Liberia (PDPL); Liberia Action Party (LAP); National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL); Unity Party (UP); Liberia National Union (LINU); Liberian Unification Party (LUP); Free Democratic Party (FDP); All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP); Progressive People’s Party (PPP); Labour Party of Liberia (LPL); Liberia Equal Rights Party (LERP); National Reformation Party (NRP) and the New Deal Movement (NDM).]

NEC Issues Alliance with Certificate of Registration

Also yesterday the NEC issuedthe first political alliance with a certificate of registration. The Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD) is composed of the United People’s Party (UPP) and the Liberia People’s Party (LPP).

The NEC wishes to remind parties that 19 July is the last day for alliances or coalitions to apply for registration.

NEC Chair Announces Official Political Campaign Start Date

Yesterday Chair of the NEC, Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris announced that the Political Campaign will start on 15 August and end 24 hours before the elections slated for 11 October. This is an amendment to the original start date which was scheduled for 1 September.

In the guidelines on Political Parties and Independent Candidate Registration, there is a section on the do’s and don’tsvis-à-vis political campaigning

According to section 21.3, canvassing for votes is not allowed outside the official campaign period. Therefore, the following campaign activities relating to the canvassing for votes cannot be carried out before this period:

(a)Political rallies;

(b)Political broadcasts, statements and political messages in print and electronic media;

(c)Use of posters, flyers, buntings, advertisement on billboards, public and private buildings and light poles;

(d)Distribution of T-shirts, caps and other promotional items.

Section 21.2states, however, thatthe following political activities are permitted outside the official campaign period:

(a)Political party membership drive;

(b)Establishment of party offices (national and local);

(c)Fundraising activities;

(d)Use of logos on offices and other party property;

(e)Political party meetings;

(f)Political party national and local conventions;

(g) House to house visits to discuss party policies;

(h)Representational activities, including receiving and responding to petitions from constituents.

Petitioners’ List For Independent Candidates Now Available

The form for the Petition List for Independent Candidates is now available and can be collected free of charge by potential Independent Candidates from either the NEC Headquarters on 16th Street in Sinkhor or from the Offices of the Commission’s Magistrates in the counties.

When this form is returned it must have the following details from petitioners: name; sex; voter registration number; signature or thumbprint and the date. The form must also have the required number of petitioners depending on the public office sought. The Independent Candidate must also fill out his or her name; specify the public office sought; and indicate their electoral district in addition to specifying the number of pages attached.

Summary of Questions and Answers

Responding to a question about the recent filing of a complaint by LAP about illegal political campaigning by certain parties, the NEC Chair said when the Commission received the complaint it called both the petitioner and the accused to a meeting. Most of the people against whom the complaint had been leveled either represented themselves or were represented by lawyers. Some had filed responses to the accusation while others were preparing their defense. “When everything is done we will examine the findings”, she said adding that, “We will look at both sides always paying attention to due process”.

When asked who the parties accused of illegal campaigning were, the NEC Chair named the LPP,CDC, UP, UDP and NDPL. She also said the issue should be resolved by the next weekend.

On the issue of fund raising [for political parties], some members of the press notedthat while this activity should be conducted in Liberia there was evidence that it was also taking place outside the country, highlighting websites and addresses that were in existence to do just this. Cllr. Johnson-Morris said the NEC was still examining the evidence but at this stage was not prepared to preempt a ruling.

When asked why the political campaign date had been brought forward from 1 September to 15 August, the NEC Chair said the issue had been discussed and debated in many quarters and “in principle we had to do something in due course”. She highlighted the fact that the original timetable had made provisions for adjustments should they be required. “The timetable was not a done deal neither was it written in stone”. Based on that it was re-examined she said adding “You have to be aware that everything here is governed by circumstances”.

On the issue of whether the 11 October Election date could also then be changed, Cllr. Johnson-Morris stressed, “This dateis written in stone”.

Commenting on the electoral process to date the NEC Chair said, “We are pretty comfortable with what we have. Our partners - UNMIL, the European Commission (EC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - are living up to their promises. I believe they are all committed to seeing this process through”, she added.

When asked when the numbers from the Exhibition Period would be available she stated that kits were being collected at the moment, retrieved and returned. “We will know the number of challenges and claims when they arrive”.

Responding to a question on the cases of multiple and underage registrations that had been discovered to date, Cllr. Johnson-Morris said “We have already given those names to the Ministry of Justice and we are prepared to go to Court for prosecution”.

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