By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
After observing the late start of voting in all 16 districts of the country, the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has urged the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to improve on logistics planning to ensure early and effective distribution of election materials to designated polling stations to help reduce the late opening of polling stations.
The Association made its election observation findings public in a statement issued on the 2nd of June 2023.
According to the Association, the ECSL should provide adequate essential election materials for all polling stations to prevent delays during voting. It also urged ECSL to ensure that all its staff at polling stations be clearly and adequately identified to prevent imposters and facilitate a smooth voting process on Election Day.
However, a high voter turnout was also observed, and voters were not prejudiced by the late start of voting, noting that all eligible voters that wanted to vote in the June 24 multi-tier elections had the opportunity to do so.
It further admonished the ECSL to improve its communications with the public to address misinformation and disinformation which have the potential to undermine the credibility of the institution. It further called on the Election observation groups to refrain from the announcement of election results, noting that it is not only a usurpation of the constitutional mandate of ECSL, but also heightens political tension.
“Where concerns are raised by any election observation group or political party, the issues should be determined in a court of competent jurisdiction,” part of the statement reads.
The SLBA notes that the ECSL in the election process has not acted at variance with the applicable law of the public elections Act. It observed that citizens who were to embark on pilgrims were allowed to exercise their franchise and were thus allowed to vote on the 15th June 2023, saying the process met the standard required by the applicable law and acceptable national practice.
The Bar Association further observed that media Regulations and Codes of Conduct were adhered to and journalists were largely professional. It however observed the blatant misuse and abuse of social media, with serious misinformation, disinformation, and falsehood posted and circulated across major social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, fueled by political agents, leading to heightened political and ethno-regional tensions.
It noted that party agents were well represented in all polling stations and tally centeres across the country and were vigilant in all the electioneering processes on the polling day. It stated that though there were some isolated cases of strong disagreements, the differences were quickly resolved.
The SLBA went on to note that the election was not heavily securitized, but the presence of security forces was visible at polling stations and there were unarmed security personnel which emphasized the civil nature of elections. It observed that security personnel who were deployed in polling stations were not disadvantaged from voting, even when deployed in stations where they did not register.
It observed that after the close of polls, the counting of ballot papers was done transparently in the presence of all political party agents and observers and that where there were discrepancies, the ECSL personnel availed the opportunity for verification. It stated that though in a few stations, the Results Reconciliation Forms (RRFs) were not enough, the information was written on a sheet of paper, and party agents and observers were allowed to take evidence of same, but the SLBA notes that the challenges did not hamper the election, nor does it affect any contesting candidate.
The Association observed that there were some unofficial bodies accredited by ECSL to observe the 2023 elections that wrongly held a view and misinformed the public about the outcome of the 2023 elections before the official announcement by ECSL. It noted that the aforementioned bodies created unnecessary political tension and appeared to deliberately undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Save for the few challenges which the Association believes did not materially affect the outcome of the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections, it noted that the elections were free, fair, and largely peaceful. The SLBA, therefore, commended the ECSL and the security personnel for their selfless service and congratulated President Julius Maada Bio on his re-election.
The Association’s statement came after the National Elections Watch released its projected results predicting a run-off.
The Sierra Leone Bar Association is a professional body of legal practitioners in Sierra Leone whose mandate is contained in paragraphs of its Memorandum of Association to consider all questions of law affecting the interest of the State and provide information on legal subjects including all matters affecting the public.
Copyright © Politico (05/07/23)
