The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne Lansanah, has disclosed that there will be no biometric voting during the 2023 general and presidential elections; instead, the manual voting system will be used. Browne Lansanah noted that the biometric system will only be used during the voter registration period.
Browne Lansanah made the statement on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at the House of Representatives when she provided updates on the upcoming biometric voter registration when she appeared in full plenary.
She appeared along with the Board of Commissioners of the NEC to discuss issues relating to the voter registration information containing the VR schedule and factsheet.
Addressing members of the House in open plenary, the NEC Chairperson assured that the commission is fully prepared to conduct the biometric voter registration as planned. She further informed the august body that there will be no biometric voting; instead, the manual voting system will be used.
According to her, individuals whose nationality will be questioned during the registration exercise will be required to prove their citizenship by providing citizen ID card, passport and recognition by elders of the communities in which the registration process is taking place. She pointed out that anyone who attempts to do multiple registration will be weed out because of the fingerprint used during the process.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 officially launched the 2023 biometric voter registration’s bi-monthly briefings ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The launch took place at the headquarters of the commission, 9th Street, Sinkor, with the objectives of starting the biometric voter registration’s bi-monthly briefing, which is a regularly session that provides updates and engages the public on the biometric voter registration that begins on March 20, 2023 and ends on May 11, 2023.
Speaking at the occasion, Browne Lansanah said the Laxton Group, which is responsible for procuring the BVR equipment and software for the NEC, has been working closely with the NEC/UNDP technical team to ensure the voter registration software is fully built to function for the biometric voter registration exercise.
According to her, the testing if the equipment was done in January at the Firestone Liberia Rubber Plantation to ensure that capturing of fingerprints for manual laborers will not be difficult during implementation.
She said the government has allotted US$18.37 million for the process, of which the commission has received US$14,225,000 and is in discussion with the Ministry of Finance and Development planning (MFDP) on the balance, in order to support the contractual arrangements with the Laxton Group.
She emphasized that campaign for the 2023 general elections will take place from August 5, 2023 to October 8, 2023, and that only after being qualified by the NEC can an aspirant become a candidate to contest in the upcoming elections.
Lansanah urged all political actors and stakeholders to continue to promote non-violent engagements during these electoral activities. “We urge the public to take advantage of existing legal channels in addressing grievances,” she stated.