Ahead of the 2029 elections, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) wants the National Elections Commission (NEC) to overhaul key electoral laws to make the Commission trustworthy.
The Commission has meanwhile, warned that weaknesses in the existing legal framework could undermine efforts to deliver a credible, trustworthy, and inclusive electoral process.
The initiative followed a review by LRC, which identified gaps that required legislative attention.
LRC Executive Chairperson, Bornor M. Varmah, said the Commission is working with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and other stakeholders to address the deficiencies before the next elections cycle.
The planned reforms come amid concerns about whether Liberia can complete long-discussed electoral changes early enough to avoid last-minute amendments before voters go to the polls.
NEC has also been pursuing institutional reforms, and a five-year strategic plan to strengthen preparations for 2029.
Among areas under review, are political-party regulation, campaign financing, voter registration, women’s political participation, and mechanisms to resolve electoral disputes.
These areas have remained important concerns in the electoral system, and have featured in recommendations for strengthening future elections.
Cllr. Varmah said, the Commission has already audited the electoral legal regime, and identified gaps that required urgent action.
The reform process, he said, is being undertaken in cooperation with the NEC, civil society organizations, and international partners.
The reform effort required translating recommendations into laws before political campaigning, and other election-related activities intensify.
Though NEC has previously carried electoral reform proposals in election cycles without completing all of the necessary legislative changes, questions are raised about implementation, and political commitment.
The NEC has separately reported that constituency delimitation remains another urgent electoral issue.
The Commission, and UNDP have noted that the current electoral districts were last delineated in 2011, and that the process has faced legal, and technical constraints, underscoring the need for timely action ahead of 2029.
The Law Reform Commission is expected to prepare a draft of proposed legal changes before subjecting the proposals to stakeholder review and validation.
