By Emmanuel Sahr Tengbeh
Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) faces tough criticisms from several institutions ahead of June 24, 2023 elections. ECSL whose mandate is to conduct public elections in Sierra Leone held early voting for pilgrims that, in few days, will leave the country for Saudi Arabia. The voting exercise which took place last Thursday 14th June, 2023 did not go down well with many Sierra Leoneans as well as several institutions.
NEW (National Elections Watch), a local agency that provides oversight on the conduct of elections is the latest to criticise ECSL for election malpractices. ECSL is responsible for conducting and supervising all public elections in Sierra Leone as laid down in the Public Elections Act, 2022.
In a press release of 15th June, 2023, NEW accuses ECSL of lacking transparency especially in the printing of ballot papers.”ECSL confirmed that ballot papers for early voting were printed in Sierra Leone.
They had earlier informed the PPLC (Political Parties Liaison Committee) that ballot papers printed in South Africa would arrive on Saturday 17th June, 2023,” a portion of press release reads. ECLS’ statements, according to NEW, means that ballot papers for the elections have been printed in two different countries, and possibly by two different countries.
As it stands, the elections oversight body is concerned about the protection, custody, verifiability, transparency and accountability on the production of ballot papers printed in two different countries for the same elections. Non-clarity of the early voter’s list also featured in the press release.
It stated that early voter’s list was not displayed and the number of voters for early voting disaggregated by districts was not available. ‘Best practice,’ the press release, further reads, demands that voters’ list be made public ahead of an election.
ECSL also violates section 4 of the Public Elections (Early Voting) Regulations, 2023 which provides for an early voter’s list to be made available to political parties on request.
“The Public Elections (Early voting) Regulations of 2023 section 3 provides for an early voters’ list, issuance of the early voters’ list to political parties on request and issuance of certificate to enable voters to vote,” the press further noted. ECSL also failed to communicate, on time, the date for the early voting. NEW said the date for the early voting was communicated at a PPLC meeting held in Freetown on 14th June, 2023 less than 24 hours to the commencement of voting.
Findings from observers in polling stations also indicate that some voters were turned away. Most were not allowed to vote for the preferred candidates.
From the issues highlighted, it is clear that the early voting was marred by electoral irregularities.
Although NEW does not call for another early voting, it makes strong recommendations for consideration by ECSL. The election body must furnish the public with information about the service provider that printed the ballot papers for the early voting and how many were printed.
Consistency in the management of elections to increase public trust and confidence was another recommendation made by NEW. This is not the first time NEW has condemned ECSL in the conduct of elections. The oversight body had it hot with ECSL during a re-run election in Constituency 110 in Freetown between 2020 and 2021.
It condemned ECSL for the cancellation of votes owing to a wave of violence that was insufficient for ECSL to take such action. The malpractices that hallmark the early voting have sent fear and shock waves to opposition political parties ahead of June 24 elections.
They see ECSL as one that has tilted the scale in favour of the incumbent candidate, President Julius Maada Bio.
Owing to stark incompetence and irregularities, the Presidential Candidate for the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) has called for the resignation of all commissioners including the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh during a press conference held at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Dr Samura Kamara believes that rigging before voting has taken place. Several issues he highlighted in the press release of 14th June, 2023 have featured prominently in the early voting exercise.