The National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia has begun the process of burning ballot papers and other electoral materials used during the 2020 Special Senatorial Election and the November 16, 2021 by-election in Bong County.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) is an autonomous public commission that is responsible to conduct elections for all elective public offices, administering and enforce all elections laws throughout the Republic of Liberia.
The symbolic commencement of the burning of the used elections materials took place on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the Upper Bong County Elections Magisterial Office in Gbarnga, where used elections materials from the Upper Bong County warehouse were burnt.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Upper Bong County Senior Magistrate of the National Election Commission, Daniel Newland said the destruction of the used elections materials is a requirement of Section 4.16 of the New Elections Law of Liberia.
He said section 4.16 of the New Elections Law of 1986 states that “The Commission shall preserve all writs issued for elections and all ballots cast and registered votes made in elections until the validity of such election and its results can no longer be disputed. The Ballot paper may then be burned.”
Mr. Newland said Ballot papers that are being destroyed are from the Special Senatorial election, the National Referendum, and the November 16, 2021 by-election in the County.
For her part, the National Election Commission Chairperson, Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the ballot papers and other elections materials that have been burned are from the past two elections including the National Referendum that took place in Bong County and Liberia at large.
She said the burning of past Electoral materials will continuously take place across the Country.
The Liberia National Election Commission Chairperson said the destruction of ballot papers and other materials used during the 2020 Special Senatorial election, the National Referendum, and the November 16, 2021 by-elections is also intended to clear the Commission’s warehouses across the Country and provide space for the storage of materials for the pending 2023 General and Presidential elections.
The burning ceremony of the past electoral materials was witnessed by the media, Liberia National Police, Civil Society Organizations, local leaders, and citizens of Bong County. smartnewsliberia.com
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