NEC Commences Voter Registration March 20 -Biometric Registry Contract Concluded

By Stephen G. Fellajuah

MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) says the procurement process for the Biometric equipment, software and materials for the Voter Registration has been concluded. Laxton Group was selected to provide the goods and services for the Voter Registration Exercise, and a contract has been signed by the parties and attested to by the government.

Addressing a major press conference on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at the NEC headquarters in Monrovia, the Chairperson Mrs. Davidetta Browne Lansanah noted that with the procurement process having ended, the Commission has adjusted its timeline with key dates. The 2023 Voter Registration will run from 20 March 2023 to 11 May 2023, and will be done in two phases.

She said Phase one will begin on 20 March 2023 and will last for three weeks, ending on 9 April 2023; while phase two will begin on 21 April 2023 and will last for three weeks, ending on 11 May 2023.

 The period from 10 April through 20 April 2023 she said will be for deployment to the next phase. According to Madam Lansanah, phase one counties include Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu. Counties in phase two include River Cess, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa.

Speaking on funding of the Voter Registration exercise, the NEC boss revealed that the government of Liberia has provided Ten Million (US$10, 000,000,00) in US and Liberian Dollars to start the Voter Registration. Eight Million Three Hundred – Seventy -Five Thousand (US$8, 375, 000) is the balance due the Commission as per the 2022 fiscal year budget.

She said, “The Commission has been in discussion with the Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning (MFDP) on the remaining of the Eight Million Three Hundred -Seventy – Five Thousand (US$8, 375, 000). As the year ends this December, the Commission urges the MFDP to deliver this amount in fulfillment of the commitment to fund the Voter Registration exercise”.