Daily Times

Liberia’s election body said Tuesday it is extending the voting for president and members of the national legislature in some counties in the southern part of the country where electoral materials and personnel had a delay in reaching. Davidetta Lansanah, head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), said while addressing a daily press briefing in the nation’s capital Monrovia that at least 11 precincts in the southeastern county of Sinoe and the south-central county of Rivercess were affected by the voting extension caused by overflowing of rivers due to heavy rainfall in those parts of the country.

According to Lansanah, the Planson River in Sinoe County, which is located on the outskirts of Greenville city, overflowed its banks and crossed the main road leading to most of the centers in at least two districts. This development affected the conveying of electoral materials and personnel to the affected areas, as well as the conduct of polls, on Tuesday. “All efforts by the NEC staff to cross the river from both sides have been futile so far,” the electoral chief said. “Also, the truck carrying election materials to District One in Sinoe County got stuck in the mud in the Butlaw area due to heavy rain and bad road.” Lansanah said the election magistrate arranged a fleet of motorcycles to convey the materials late Monday, but this also hit a brick wall due to a bad road, thereby leading to a late start of polls in that area. “Due to the situation, the commission will extend the voting time in those areas,” she said but declined to give the exact number of hours the voting will be extended.

In Rivercess County, the Timbo River overflowed its banks and the NEC vehicles with election materials were unable to cross, and there was a late start of voting in some areas as the vehicles arrived at their destinations late after the water had receded, the official said.

More than 2.4 million Liberians were expected to vote during the general election on Tuesday, according to NEC, which oversees the conduct of elections in all 15 counties of the country. Incumbent President George Weah is seeking reelection while former Vice President Joseph Boakai leading the opposition is challenging him.

Lansanah said despite the challenges recorded, the polls had “generally progressed well throughout the day across the country.”