For The Nov 14 Presidential Run-off Election
PHOTO: Lawrence Yealue, II, head of Accountability Lab
MONROVIA, Liberia–As Liberians head to the polls on November 14, 2023, for the runoff Presidential Elections, Accountability Lab (A-Lab) Liberia is beefing up its Civic and Voter Education messages aimed at encouraging citizens to vote peacefully, educate them about invalid voting and discourage them from selling their voting cards.
With support from the USAID Liberia Civil Society Activity (CSA) project, AL Liberia produced 10 radio dramas, six jingles, three short videos, two hip-hop songs, cartoon sketches, and four podcasts. Some messages are also featured on the organization’s social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter(X), Facebook (Integrity Icon Liberia Page), and WhatsApp. The two Hipco Songs, “Your Vote Your Power’’ and “Don’t Let Me Down’’ can be heard on Audio Mack.
A-Lab launched the Civic and Voters’ Education for Nonviolence and Electoral Security through Youth and Women Participation before the October 10th Presidential and Legislative elections. The messages are airing on national radio stations in Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Sinoe, and Grand Gedeh counties in simple Liberian English and popular Liberian dialects; in Kpelleh, Bassa, Mandingo, and Vai.
The messages have reached over 40,000 social media users and over 200,000 people in the targeted counties covered by radio.
I, W. Lawrence Yealue, II, Accountability Lab Liberia’s Country Director, want to reemphasize that the project’s goal is to promote non-violence and educate the Liberian electorates, particularly women, youth, and first-time voters, to actively participate in the electoral process, and intentionally counter the very high number of invalid votes (of over 114,000) recorded in the October 10 voting exercise, and the increasingly disturbing rumor of voting cards selling throughout the country.
In addition to the ongoing messaging, A-Lab will engage the young people on street corners through musical jamborees and youth intellectual center discussions. The engagement also includes Vox Pop, radio talk shows, and publication of cartoon sketches, and podcasts with distinguished Liberian intellectuals.