With less than month to the November 8, 2020 midterm senatorial and referendum elections, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has written both Chambers of the Legislature seeking the suspension of the 2020 National Referendum to next year.
According to a PUL Statement issued in Monrovia Wednesday, the Union said public education on the referendum is grossly limited, and far below constitutional requirement. The PUL is therefore asking Lawmakers to amend the Joint resolution of the Legislature to delay the referendum and do exactly what the constitution of Liberia requires.
“Article 92 of the Liberian Constitution requires sensitization on referendum within the period of one year, but awareness for the proposed amendment, has just started in the last twenty four hours two months to the December Elections,” the PUL stated, noting that the Special Senatorial Election and the referendum are tied as one election; something, the Union sees as overburdening of the capacity of the National Elections Commission to manage the 8th December polls.
Collapsing of multi propositions (terms limits) into one, creates confusion in the minds of the voters, the Union also lamented, the PUL lamented.
It can be recalled journalists celebrating the 56th Anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, recently mandated the Union’s Leadership to inform the Liberian Legislature and the National Elections Commission of poor civic education on the referendum, and as a result, it should be postponed.
According to the PUL, in August of 2011, poor preparation for a constitutional referendum led to all propositions of the proposed amendment being resoundingly rejected by the Liberian people. One of the propositions got approved based on judicial review by the Supreme Court.