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News & Updates
Press Release
IFES Returns to Work with Liberia's National Elections Commission
IFES has been awarded a five‐year cooperative agreement by USAID to support various upcoming elections in Liberia: the constitutional referendum, by‐elections, and national and local elections. These polls are of particular importance because of their central role in supporting the country’s continued transition from a devastated, conflict‐torn nation to one that is slowly building the democratic systems, institutions, and processes needed to promote long‐term stability and development.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES Supports Liberia's 2014 Voter Registration Update
In the first quarter of 2011, the National Elections Commission (NEC) – with IFES support – conducted a nationwide voter registration drive to compile a voter register that was used for the 2011 referendum and all subsequent elections.
News & Updates
Press Release
Health Crisis in West Africa Erodes Peace and Democratization Efforts
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is deeply concerned about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This health crisis has resulted in more than 1,350 reported deaths so far in a region that has been moving steadily toward peace and democratization. This outbreak of the Ebola virus has already killed more people than any other Ebola epidemic in history.
Publication
Report/Paper
Report of an Electoral Assessment and Planning Mission to Liberia: April 4-25, 2004
With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Accra in August 2003, Liberians committed themselves to political, versus military, competition for the control of Liberia’s reconstruction. This commitment places added importance on the electoral process as the means through which the political competition will be carried out. The signatories to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement agreed to reform Liberia’s electoral system prior to the conduct of the 2005 elections. A major challenge, however, is how this electoral system can serve as a framework for political competition beyond 2005. In April 2004, IFES fielded a technical planning mission to examine the electoral environment and suggest a strategy for international support for the electoral process. Among the key findings were: 1. Liberians must be involved in all aspects of the process for the CPA-mandated October 2005 elections to leverage the maximum opportunity to bring the nation to a state of peaceful transition; 2. The electoral framework – detailing the legal provisions, the type of electoral system, the nature of the elections to be held, and other aspects of the electoral process – must be agreed upon no later than October 2004 to allow sufficient time for election preparations. Such a framework should be endorsed by Liberia’s stakeholders; 3. Timely, coordinated and robust international assistance at all stages and levels of the electoral process is necessary to create an environment for a successful outcome and to ensure that the best practices of transitional political processes are put into place; and 4. The international community will have to cover the majority of the cost of the elections, as well as provide considerable assistance to the resulting elected and appointed institutions responsible for Liberia’s reconstruction. This report contains recommendations for both the National Elections Commission (NEC) and its partners in the international community. Some of the key recommendations include: • To ensure that Liberian stakeholders are supportive of the electoral framework, that it meets Liberia’s needs and that it conforms to international standards, the process that leads to the establishment of the electoral framework must be perceived as inclusive and legitimate, while drawing on international best practices and principles. As such, it is recommended that fora be provided for NEC and Liberian political and civic actors to consider the various major issues. The international community should support the electoral reform process and provide technical assistance to facilitate the drafting of the resultant electoral framework. • International assistance will need to be provided to build the capacity of the National Elections Commission to organize and conduct the elections and to ensure the credibility of the electoral process. • The international community and the National Transitional Government of Liberia will need to provide timely and complete support to the elections budget. Any delays in the provision of financing and material will negatively impact the elections timeline. Once the electoral framework is finalized, the full costs for the elections will be known. However, priority at this point should be given to financing the NEC’s current personnel and operational costs, including the re-establishment of its presence in the counties, and voter education. • International assistance should support: o The administration of the elections: To support the conduct of a credible and efficient process through the provision of: i. A Chief Electoral Advisor and/or international members on the National Elections Commission to support the development of policy and procedures and the overall management of the electoral process; ii. Technical advisors to assist NEC headquarters and county offices in implementing the electoral framework; iii. Financial, material and logistical support. o The resolution of electoral disputes during all phases of the electoral process: To enable the timely arbitration and resolution of electoral disputes through the establishment of an Election Dispute Tribunal; and o Electoral participation: To promote a level political playing field and informed participation in the electoral process by Liberia’s citizens. International assistance should be well-timed and initiatives effectively coordinated to avoid duplication of effort and to maximize impact.
April 03, 2004
Publication
Report/Paper
Report on Joint UN/IFES Mission Electoral Process in Liberia
This report summarizes the IFES mission regarding the electoral process in Liberia in 1994.
September 30, 1993
Publication
Book
Political Finance in Post-Conflict Societies
This study of political finance in post-conflict society identifies lessons learned from international donor-funded efforts to support political processes in post-conflict environments in general and the funding of political parties and campaign finance in particular. The document consists of eight case studies that seek to improve our understanding not only of the political dynamics of post-conflict situations but also of how to rally international support for holding elections and supporting democratization under such circumstances.
April 30, 2006
Publication
Report/Paper
The Gambia: Pre-Election Assessment 1996, Final Report
This report summarizes a pre-election assessment from The Gambia in 1996. The report discusses various topics in The Gambia, including human rights, civic education, political parties, the media and The Gambia’s election commission. The report discusses the challenges faced by various election teams (IFES, NDI) in The Gambia.
August 31, 1996
Publication
Report/Paper
Regional Director on “The Elections We Want” in Africa
As part of its annual report, the Wilson Center Africa Program asked IFES Regional Director for Africa Rushdi Nackerdien to contribute an essay on recent African elections. His piece, “The Elections We Want,” covered 2017 elections in Angola, Rwanda, Liberia, Senegal, the Gambia, and Kenya, and their implications for election practitioners moving forward.
January 31, 2018
Publication
Brochure/Fact Sheet
Liberia Elections and Political Transition
While post-conflict elections relied heavily on international technical and financial assistance, Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) oversaw the general elections in 2005 and 2011 with decreasing levels of international technical assistance, and both elections were widely deemed as credible. Despite these successes, however, the NEC faces challenges as opposition parties often express doubts about the body being independent and non-partisan.
January 28, 2015
Election FAQ
Elections in Liberia: 2017 General Elections
On October 10, Liberians will vote for president and vice president, as well as all 73 seats in the House of Representatives. Twenty candidates will vie for the presidency and 980 will compete for the House seats. The October 2017 general elections represent the first peaceful political transfer between democratically elected governments since 1944, including a potential change in the ruling party. In not seeking a third term, which would have first required a constitutional amendment, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is ensuring that the return of democracy to Liberia is not temporary.