By Esau J. Farr esaufarr1980@gmail.com
MONROVIA-As the processes leading to the conduct of the 2023 October 10 polls heat up in Liberia, the National Elections Commission is expected to launch public awareness of the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) today, February 24, 2023 in Monrovia.
The launch is aimed at ensuring the maximum participation of Liberians in the electoral process.
The launch on today, February 24 February 2023 is the first phase of the nationwide Civic and Voter Education (CVE) campaign and the CVE cells for the 2023 Legislative and Presidential Elections in six counties.
The campaign will simultaneously be launched in the first six counties which include Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, and Margibi under the theme “Strengthening and increasing Citizen’s Participation”.
An NEC’s statement says to officially kick off the campaign, there will be a parade from the old Ministry of Education on Broad Street to the Headquarters of NEC in Sinkor between 9th and 10th Streets, where indoor programs marking the CVE launch will be convened.
The aim of the CVE launch is to encourage all citizens, irrespective of status, that have attained the age of 18 years and above to turn out to register during the Voter Registration exercise from 20 March – 11 May this year.
The campaign, according to the NEC will raise awareness about the voter registration process, which will be in two phases: phase one from 20 March to 9 April and phase two from 21 April to 11 May.
The NEC’s statement said, to ensure mass community participation in the CVE campaign, the Commission has hired community-based organizations (CBO) to serve as CVE cells in the 73 electoral districts to support the outreach activities and exercises.
“The recruitment of temporary staff for the BVR is ongoing in six counties; the counties are Gbarpolu, Margibi, Cape Mount, Bassa, Bomi, and Montserrado,” a statement from the NEC said.
It furthered that “Our recruitment Teams, in each of the counties will paste the final listing of qualified applicants on the walls of the magisterial offices and other visible public areas”.
The NEC on yesterday had soccer and kickball matches with CVE Cells as part of starting activities of the launch of the BVR campaign.
The CVE Cells are the newly established Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) charged to carry out CVE activities in the respective communities across the 73 political Districts of Liberia. The CVE launch is meant to enhance the awareness drive of the Commission to increase the political participation of all qualified voters.
Meanwhile, the Commission says it assures the public that the Key Dates leading to the October 2023 elections will be followed.
“This is to ensure compliance with laws appertaining to elections; Chapter 3.2 (a) of the New Elections Law of 1986 requires that not later than two weeks before the first day of the registration the Commission shall publish the names of the Voter Registration Centers. We are committed in doing this before the start of the BVR on 20 March,” the statement concluded.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.