Africa-Press – Liberia. As part of institutional reform measures of the National Elections Commission (NEC), the selection of all commissioners will be subjected to public vetting or scrutiny and shortlisted for Presidential appointment.
According to the amendment of Section 2.1 of the New Elections Law of 1986, approved by the House of Representatives, “the process of appointment of the Commissioners shall begin with public vetting/scrutiny as a first step to produce a shortlist of candidates from which the President shall nominate to the Senate for confirmation. Among the confirmed Commissioners, the President shall appoint one as Chair and another as Co-chair of the Board of Commissioners of whom one shall be either sex. No two Commissioners shall come from the same county.”
The amendments of the 1986 election law, now await the Senate for concurrence before submission to the President for signature — then becoming law. Political pundits believed that this amendment will not only promote integrity in governance but will tackle political corruption and as well as promote the independence of the autonomous public commission. It has been argued that this amendment – this election reform will only be fully actualized with the involvement of the public if an effective and systematic methodology or operational vetting guidelines are set up to ensure a minimum standard of integrity.
Furthered, the amendment version of the New Elections Law of 1986 in Section 2.2, stated that “Commissioners of the National Elections Commissioners consistent with Section 2 1 herein, who shall hold their office during good behavior for a period of a term of seven years effective as of the date of their Commission. They may be removed through impeachment proceedings consistent with due process of Law upon proof of misconduct.
Also in Section 2.2, the Chairperson, Co-chairperson, and other members of the Board of Commissioners shall serve up to the age of 70 years. They may however bě removed upon proof of criminal misconduct through impeachment by the Legislature.
For too long Diaspora Liberians have been denied the right to participate in the political processes directly, even though indirectly they contribute immensely to the political processes and financially to the economy. If the Senate occurs, Diaspora Liberians, too, will vote.
This bill Section 3.2(d) states ‘Liberians in the Diaspora may, to the extent reasonably and practically possible, register to vote, and vote at the Embassy in the country in which they reside, or at a location prescribed by the Election Commission’.
The proponent (or sponsor) of the election reform which led to amendments in the New Elections Law of 1986 is Montserrado County District #10 Representative Richard N. Koon. Co-sponsors are Deputy Speaker Rep. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and the Women Legislative Caucus, with Rep. Rosanna Schaach as chairperson.
Meanwhile, the proponent Rep. Koon, firstly, congratulated his colleagues, especially members of the Joint House’s Committee (Elections and Inauguration, Good governance and Government Reform, Judiciary and Gender equity, Child Development, and Social Service) – passed a bill we introduced on elections reforms in Liberia) fòr recommending the passage of the amendments after careful review.
Rep. Koon also thanked local and international partners, particularly the UN women and all strategic partners that made this possible. “While I am happy that the bill was passed, I am also distraught about the form and manner in which some members of the press and prominent individuals in our society continue to misinform and misinform the public negatively about the bill.”
“While it is their right to write or say whatever pleases them, I like to provide these logical clarities on some of the controversies spewed to the public. The first issue that has been circulating on social media, print media, and radios across Liberia about the astronomical increase of registration fees for aspirants ranging from 500 USD to 5,000 USD for Representative candidates, 750 USD to 7,500 USD for Senatorial candidates, from 1,500 USD to 10,000 USD for the vice-presidential candidates and from 2,500 USD to 15,000 USD for the presidential candidates are all false, misleading and an actual misrepresentation of the fact. Section 7.3(2) deals with proposed application and registration fees: The increment made in the bill passed by the plenary was 1,000 USD for representative candidates, 1,500 USD for senatorial candidates, 3000USD for Vice Presidential candidates, and 5,000 for presidential candidates.”
The Montserrado lawmaker added: ” In my mind, after 36years before the revisitation of these regulations, the increment is justified taking ‘time value for money into context and revenue generation into considerable consideration – improving the independence of the National Elections Commission.”
Hè added: “In a country where the political landscape is dominated by men, this bill. Section 4.5.1(b) A political party or coalition participating in an Election shall submit to the Commission its structure and the list of members of its governing body, which shall have no less than 30% from each gender and Section 4.5 (1) (c) of the New amended Elections law proposed, which reads. A list of candidates submitted to the Commission for an election shall have no less than 30% of the candidates from each gender. Section 4.5 (1d) states ‘A political party or coalition shall have at least one-woman contestant for the primary at the convention for each constituency it nominates a candidate. Section 4.5 (1e) also says ‘A political party or Coalition whose list from its convention or primary does not satisfy the required quota for gender, such list shall be rejected by the NEC upon submission and the affected party may be entitled to re-submission within the required period.”
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
