The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne Lansanah, has announced a run-off between the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Unity Party (UP), to be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, due to the fact that the two parties obtained the highest votes in the October 10, 2023 general and presidential elections but with none accumulating the required 50%+1 vote to be declared winner.
According to the NEC boss, the results of the October 10, 2023 polls show that the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) obtained the highest number of votes, 804,087, constituting 43.83%, followed by the ticket of the Unity Party (UP), which obtained 796,961 votes, constituting 43.44%.
However, she said, Article 83 (b) of the Constitution of Liberia requires that for any presidential ticket to win outright on the first ballot, that ticket must acquire at least 50 percent plus one of the valid votes cast. Article 83 (b) further states that where no presidential ticket obtains at least 50 percent plus one, the two presidential tickets that received the highest number of valid votes shall participate in a run-off election, to be held on the second Tuesday following the expiration of the time provided for in Article 83 (c).
“With the results of the October 10 polls showing that no presidential ticket obtained 50 percent plus one vote, a run-off election is hereby declared, to be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 between the two tickets that obtained the highest number of votes–the presidential ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), led by Mr. George Manneh Weah, and the presidential ticket of the Unity Party (UP), led by Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai,” Chairperson Lansanah announced.
She declared that the political campaign for the November 14 run-off election begins on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 and closes on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
The NEC boss noted that Election Day, October 10, 2023, was characterized by a record high turnout of 1,949,155 voters, which constitutes 78.86 percent of the 2,471,617 total registered voters. “This huge turnout is unprecedented in Liberia’s modern democratic election history and it is due, in part, to the Commission’s successful transition from the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) system of voter registration to the use of biometric technology for the registration of voters, which produced an excellent Final Registration Roll for the 10 October Elections,” she stated.
Earlier, Chairperson Lansanah used the medium to express the Commission’s thanks and appreciation to Liberians for voting in such huge numbers.
“The Commission also extends thanks to the United Nations, Ambassadorial Missions to Liberia, the African Union and ECOWAS Commission for providing technical data and IT support, as well as logistical and other equipment and materials, which strengthened the capacity of the NEC to deliver on these elections. These partners are also appreciated for their intervention, through various mechanisms, including the National Steering Committee on Elections (NSCE), which advocated for the Commission’s readiness to conduct the 10 October polls.
“The Commissions also applauds the Ministry of Justice/Joint Security for their steadfastness in maintaining the peace–yea your proactive and reactive responses to incidents that could have permanently disrupted the electoral process, but for your timely interventions.
“To the temporary staff as well as NEC employees and the NEC management team, we thank you for your diligence in the preparation and execution of your duty during the conduct of the 10 October polls.
“To owners of properties that were used as voting precincts, the Commission remains grateful to you for your patriotism and selfless love for country.
“The Commission also applauds the general support of international, regional and local organizations, including Democracy International, LEON, EISA, ECC, etc. and to the over 10,000 national, regional and international observers who observed the 10 October 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
“The Commission’s final commendation goes to political parties and candidates, generally for their peaceful participation in the 10 October polls.”