With Increase In Number Of Females
By Abraham Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
KAKATA, Margibi- In NEC Provisional Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) results released by the National Elections Commission (NEC) recently, statistics shows that out of the over 1.4 million registered voters in the initial six counties, Margibi County accounts for 16.3%.
The five other counties covered in phase one of the BVR process were Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Grand Bassa and Gbarpolu and the process ran from March 20-April 9, 2023.
The provisional results released by on Monday, April 17, 2023 shows that Margibi has 184,425 voters registered, with well below half of them being females.
Margibi County has five electoral districts, with the current number of females totaling Ninety-Two Thousand, Four Hundred Thirty Eight (92,438) registered voters, while the current number of males registered voters is Ninety one Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Seven (91,987), according to the NEC.
Statistics of the total number of registered voters in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections to 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections shows an increase of 16.3% in the total number of registered over the past five years.
On Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Eight (154,328) voters were recorded in 2017, while One Hundred Eighty-Four Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Five (184,425) registered voters were recorded in the 2023 BVR exercise, less than six months to the October 10 polls.
In 2017, NEC statistics shows that of the 154,328, Margibi County District#1 recorded a total of 44,152, District#2 recorded a total of 39,155, while District#3 recorded a total of 32,239 registered voters, District#4 recorded a total of 35,309 voters and District#5 recorded a total of 27,699 respectively.
However, NEC is yet to release numbers of registered voters per Districts for the 2023 BVR in the five electoral districts in Margibi.
People in Margibi react to increase in voters’ numbers
Several non-governmental, political, religious organizations have expressed delight over the increase in the number of registered voters in Margibi County as shown in the published data from NEC.
The Executive Director of Women in Peace Building Network WEPNET and head of Rural Women in Liberia, Mrs. Janka Clark has praised the media and partners for the role played in providing awareness on the BVR process in the county.
She added that WEPNET and Rural Women Liberia as local organizations are partnering with NEC to enable adequate participation of women on electoral activities across the country.
Mrs. Clark noted that the increase in the number of registered woman voters in the just-ended BVR process in Margibi County is a welcomed news.
“We are happy that women turned out in their numbers to register more than the men and we will continue to encourage them to vote come October 10,” Mrs. Clark added.
Also speaking, the Clan Chief of Womaquelleh Clan in Margibi County District#4, Edwin Naimah said that the BVR process went smoothly across Margibi county.
He however, added that there were some challenges with registration equipment and the delay of NEC workers, including low registration cards at various centers during the process, he is grateful for peaceful registration.
Mr. Naimah also said he was not surprise about the increase in the number of registered voters in this county, stating that there are people who were underage age 18 during the 2017 elections who have now turned 18 years old and that the Liberian population is increasing daily.
He stressed the need for the full participation of traditional leaders during elections, noting that Womaqulleh is a traditional area in Margibi but they ensured that NEC workers are protected during the process.
“Womaqllah is a traditional area in District#4 but in my capacity as a clan chief, I did everything possible to protect the peace that we all are enjoying today. I will also protect NEC workers during the process come October 10 to ensure that nothing happens to them as we encourage our people to go and vote,” Mr. Naimah explained.
Musa Jallah, a resident of Margibi County Electoral District #1 told Reporters that the increase in the number of registered voters was due to the constant engagement by Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) and other women organizations on the importance of the voter registration card.
“The way women organizations in Margibi are encouraging people to registers is good, I am happy for the number compared to 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the head of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) Margibi Chapter, Madam Janneh C. Sumo has also the need for women participations in national decision marking by giving women the opportunity to get elected positions.
Madam Sumo further encouraged women not to be a caretaker of the home only but to get engaged to the political process of the country.
“With the total number of woman who participated in the just ended BVR process, I think women should be encouraged and have the opportunity to participate in the body politics of our country,” Madam Sumo asserted.
Margibi County District # 1 Representative, Tibeleosa Summoh Tarponweh has also weighed in to the increase in registered voters’ number in this County.
“On behalf of the Margibi Legislative Caucus, we want to extend our appreciation to the people of Margibi County for expressing interest to register, this shows that the people of Margibi are ready to make a positive decision come October 10 of this year,” “I think the results from the just ended BVR process in Margibi County did not come as a surprise, this is based on the awareness from the media and partners to inform citizens about the importance of elections, which are decision making process for the betterment of our country. As a county Information officer of Margibi, I want to encourage our citizens to remain focused and make the right decision come October 10,” Rep. Tarponweh noted.
Edwin Slocum, a representative aspirant of Margibi County Electoral District #4 has since welcomed the report from NEC Liberia, expressed gratitude to the citizens of Margibi for turning out to register. “Article one of the Liberia constitution states that all power is inherent in the people, and October 10 is the time for our people to decide as I encourage them to vote wisely,” Mr. Slocum added.
Another representative aspirant, Mrs. Alice Basiah has called on the NEC to ensure free, fair and transparent elections come October 10.
“Well, our people have registered with huge number compared to 2017, but all we want to say is to call on the NEC to be transparent as we go alone,” she maintained.
“As head of the Full Gospel of Margibi County, we will continue to pray for our people and our country for God to direct us and maintain the peace and stability of Liberia. We are heading to a very critical period in our country and we will continue to pry for the state and people,” said Rev. Gbarngawoe Eddie Seyboe.
“We, the first time voters of District#1, including both males and females, were in high spirit to go and register, and you can see the number today compared to 2017, all we can say to our people is peace, because without peace, our country will get into another crisis, which is war and we do not war in Liberia. So, I am calling on all first time voters in Liberia to put the country first as we go to the polls October 10,” Danue Teah uttered.
The second phase of the BVR exercise has begun in the remaining nine counties of Liberia started. It started Thursday, April 21, 2023 in Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, River Gee, Rivercess, Sinoe, Bong and Lofa Counties.
NEC says there are 1,065 Voter Registration Centers in the phase one counties.
The Commission also promised to release information on duplicate registrants detected during the reduplication process. This publication was made possible as part of the Internews 2023 Elections Reporting Fellowship project.