The National Elections Commission (NEC) has announced that the total tally of voter registrations in phase one of the biometric voter registration (BVR) in six counties stands at 1,435,209, but with the likelihood of the number reducing after the deduplication exercise is conducted.
In her statement issued Monday, April 17, 2023, the Chairperson of the NEC, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, disclosed that preliminary results from Phase One show a total of 1,435,209 (one million four hundred thirty-five thousand two hundred and nine) registrants. Of this number, she said, 711,410 (seven hundred eleven thousand four hundred and ten) are females while 723,799 (seven hundred twenty-three thousand seven hundred ninety-nine) are males. “This figure is subject to change due to the ongoing deduplication and adjudication process,” she pointed out.
Chairperson Browne Lansanah disclosed that Montserrado County recorded the highest number of registrants: 891,201, following by Margibi County, which recorded 184,425. Grand Bassa County recorded 157,712; Grand Cape Mount, 86,589; Bomi, 64,395; and Gbarpolu, 50,887.
However, she disclosed that deduplication and adjudication of the voter registration records from the six counties in Phase One has begun at the Data Center. The aim of this exercise, she said, is to remove all instances of multiple registration and other data cleaning processes. “The Commission has opened its doors to all observers and stakeholders, including political party technicians that are duly accredited by the NEC to observe the deduplication and adjudication process,” she added.
Meanwhile, the NEC has disclosed further that deployment of BVR kits to the phase two counties commenced on Sunday, April 16, and as at 1:00 of April 17 all BVR Kits and materials had left NEC Headquarters Warehouse for their respective destinations in central, north and southeastern Liberia.
The Commission urged eligible Liberians in Phase Two to be ready to register in the nine counties of Bong, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Maryland, Nimba, River Gee, Rivercess and Sinoe. The NEC also encouraged the use of the online Personal Data Entry application as an optional means of entering would-be registrants’ data. “This will help to fast track the completion of their registration at the registration centers where their thumb prints will be captured, photos taken and ID cards issued,” a Browne Lansanah said in her statement.
At the same time, the Commission has advised the citizenry not to attempt to register more than once. “It is a crime to get engaged in multiple registration and all perpetrators will by caught by the BVR system and turned over to the Justice Ministry for prosecution. Besides, such multiple registrants will be automatically deactivated by the BVR system. In other words, you could lose the opportunity to exercise your franchise during the October 10, 2023 General Elections,” the statement added.
