National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Davidetta Brown Lansanah. Under her watch the NEC has completed Phase-I of the BVR in six of Liberia’s 15 counties
IPNEWS-Monrovia: Temporary Staff of the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Sunday April 9, 2023 finally concluded Phase-One of the Biometric Voter’s Registration (BVR) exercise that was held for 21 days in six of Liberia’s 15 counties.
The counties which the first phase of the BVR exercise started on Monday, March 20, 2023 were Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Gbarpolu and Bomi County respectively, as prior to the close of the exercise in these counties, the Commission announced an extension of additional time to enable all Liberians obtain their voter’s card.
Some NEC staff as well as temporary staff as they wrap up phase-one of the BVR process in six of Liberia’s 15 counties
However, Phase-II of the BVR is expected to begin in two weeks, that according to the NEC and it will be used to compile reports, retrieve equipment from the field as well pay off temporary workers.
Furthermore, the Phase-II exercise will get underway in the remaining counties which include Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, Sinoe and Rivercess from Friday, April 21 to Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Meanwhile, several of the NEC temporary workers, when quizzed by our Liberia’s Correspondent refused to make disclosure of the numbers of persons that were registered on ground that they are not clothed with the authority to besides the NEC.
It can be recalled, the process in the six Counties, however, started at a slow pace, especially in Montserrado County with a few challenges. Turnout, as expected, was low. However, NEC workers also arrived late at some centers and, in some cases, took up to two hours to set up — a situation that infuriated some people who had gathered very early in the morning to complete the process and return to their normal activities.
But as the process progressed it got better as more Liberians trooped in to register in their respective counties and locations.
Some NEC staff as well as temporary staff as they wrap up phase-one of the BVR process in six of Liberia’s 15 counties
The National Elections Commission (NEC) also extended the daily working hours by an additional two hours for the final two days of phase one of the biometric voter registration (BVR) process, which took place in six counties.
The 1,065 voter registration locations in Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, and Montserrado Counties were ordered to close at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9. The BVR process normally lasted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
According to NEC, Liberians 18 years of age and older who were already be in line at 5 p.m. were given permission to continue their registration up until 7 p.m. on the remaining two days.
However, there were repeated calls from Liberians for the Elections Commission to extend the deadline for the registration process in six of Liberia’s 15 countries, but the Commission maintained its position and ended Phase-I of the BVR exercise on Sunday, April 9, 2023.
