The Elections Coordinating Committee on Tuesday November 8, 2011 deployed the total of 1725 monitors who worked for the first round of election at various polling centers in Liberia to monitor the run-off presidential election. The ECC who released its preliminary findings from the process on election day in its statement, told the public that though there were some shortcomings like the relocation of some polling precincts named, the act of slow turnout by voters among others, said the process was so far peaceful.
On Election day, the 1725 monitors deployed in the field were made to call the ECC information center where the total number of 15 data clerks were present to receive information from monitors in the field for data processing and reporting. As the process went on, findings reported from the field along with information gathered by the roaming ECC supervision team on election day was publish.
However, the ECC has overwhelmingly come up with a final statement that the run-off election was free, free fair and transparent. The ECC said now that the elections are over, the issue of reconciliation remains a major challenge.
Press releases from the ECC after observing the 2011 elections.
November 11, 2011
PRESS STATEMENT
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) considers the November 8, 2011 Presidential Election to be free, fair and transparent. Its observers did not report any major electoral and administrative irregularities that undermined the integrity and credibility of the results. The process was peaceful and orderly.
The ECC deployed 1,725 observers at polling places across the 15 counties as well as 76 observers at the 19 electoral magistrates in the various counties and the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex to observe the counting, tallying and recording of results.
The ECC observed that almost all of the polling places opened on time and that there were adequate election materials with minor disruptions during voting. Uniformed security officers were deployed at the polling places observed. Party agents from the Unity Party were present at polling precincts. Counting started in time and all voters who were in the queue before 6 Pm were allowed to vote.
At the same time, the ECC observed some challenges during the day of election. Some unidentified persons in New Kru Town attempted to stop the transportation of ballot boxes but the situation was peacefully resolved with the intervention of UNMIL and the Liberia National Police. This phenomenon was also experienced in West Point.
Now that the elections are over, social and political reconciliation will be a major challenge in consolidating the peace and strengthening the emerging democracy. The ECC calls on the government, political parties, civil society and the media to consider this issue as a national development and governance priority and give it serious attention in the coming months.
The ECC is also calling on the government not to lose sight of the violent incident of November 7, 2011 at the headquarters of the CDC. The ECC is further urging the government to speedily establish an independent body comprising diverse stakeholders to investigate the cause of the violence that led to the death and injury of Liberians. The ECC proposes that a detailed term of reference is developed to guarantee that the findings of the investigation will be implemented in order to restore public trust and confidence in the nation’s security apparatus.
The ECC is the domestic election observer body comprising more than 30 civil society organizations that observed the major cycles of the 2011 elections.
Oscar Bloh, Chairperson
November 5, 2011
SECOND ROUND ELECTION PRESS STATEMENT
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has followed news reports on the pronouncement by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) to boycott the second round of the presidential elections slated to take place on November 8, 2011. While it is true that every party has a right to withdraw from participating in the electoral process, the ECC urges the CDC to reconsider its decision not to participate in the run-off elections.
The ECC had hoped that the two top finalists in the first round would have continued with the process to ensure the sustenance of Liberia’s emerging democracy. It is however regrettable that the CDC remains persistent with its demands.
The elections coordination body therefore encourages all registered voters to turn out on Tuesday November 8, 2011 and exercise their franchise. The ECC is also calling on all Liberians to remain peaceful and conduct themselves in accordance with the law as was demonstrated during the first round. As Liberians go to the polls on Tuesday, the ECC urges all parties to make use of laid down procedures to address their grievances.
The ECC further calls on the National Elections Commission to promptly address challenges identified by both local and international observers during the first round. NEC also needs to speedily address outstanding complaints filed and publish the outcomes of cases investigated.
The Elections Coordination Commission is a platform of more than 30 Civil Society Organizations supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) observing the electoral process to ensure credible elections.
God Bless Liberia
Oscar Bloh
Chairman, ECC
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‘’ Promoting credible elections to increase public confidence in democracy’’