WEST AFRICA WOMEN ELECTION OBSERVATIONS REPORT

LIBERIA 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS

WAWEO DECLARATION

Liberian women impressively participated in various capacities in the 2011 general elections. Their enhanced capacities were manifested in the active roles they played as candidates, polling staff, party agents, observers, security personnel and voters The number of women observers on the field was increased by the WAWEO Team. Their vigilant observation ensured that electoral procedures were complied with and did not disadvantage women directly or indirectly.

WEST AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTE

CONTENT
Acknowledgement 1. Introduction 2. Polling Process 2.1 Polling Landscape 2.2 Opening of the poll 2.3 Availability of Polling Materials 2.4 Polling Procedure 2.5 Performance of Polling Staff 2.6 Voters Conduct 2.7 Security 2.8 Accredited Party and Candidate Agents 2.9 Observers 3. Closing of the Poll 3.1 Reconciliation 3.2 Sorting and Counting 3.3 Declaration of Results 3.4 Signing of the Results 4. Women's Participation 4.1 Female Candidates 4.2 Participation 4. 2.0 Advocating for Peace 4. 2.1 Female Participation in the Electoral Process 5. Concerns 6. Recommendations 7. Conclusion 8. Appendix 8.1 Arrival Statement 8.2 Preliminary Statement

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are indebted to many organizations and individuals for their assistance to WAWEO during our mission in Liberia. In particular we wish to thank the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Liberia and its polling station staff. Without their cooperation and support, our work would have been impossible. We are most grateful to the political parties, civil society organizations, women's groups, the media and other stakeholders who briefed the team in Monrovia before the elections. We wish to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the Women, Peace and Security Network (WIPSEN-Africa) for giving us the opportunity to serve in this capacity. In conclusion, we thank IBIS - Liberia, Daphne Foundation, and Humanity United for supporting this process.

1. Introduction Women in Africa are increasingly making their presence felt in the political arena. Despite this progress, the number of women actively and visibly engaged in politics remains low in most African countries mainly due to prevailing societal belief that politics is a male domain. 2011 and 2012 present new opportunities for women in West Africa with eight countries scheduled to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. In view of this, the delegates at the 2nd Annual West African Women Policy Forum convened by the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Women, Peace and Security Network (WIPSEN-Africa) under the theme: Our Politics is NOW: Moving Beyond the Rhetoric of Womens Political Participation called for the formation of a West African Women Election Observation Team (WAWEO) consisting of two representatives from each of the fifteen ECOWAS member states. This initiative aims at promoting West African womens active participation and representation in politics, enhancing womens capacity to play active roles in electoral processes in West Africa by increasing the number of women observers and ensuring that electoral procedures including electoral laws and administration do not disadvantage women directly or indirectly. The WAWEO team was deployed during general elections to augment the work of the entire observation team across the sub-region. The first phase of this initiative consisted of the training of observers followed by deployment to observe elections. Due to insufficient funding, only 6 out of the 30 observers nominated could take part in the training and deployment for the Liberia elections. This report covers the pre-election, election and part of the post-election period.

The WAWEO team was preceded by an advance team of two, Madam Eunice Akweley Roberts, chairperson of the WAWEO team and Afia Appiah, member of WAWEO. The mission of the advance team was to observe the gender aspects of the organization and conduct of the elections in accordance with the Laws of Liberia, relevant regional and international commitments. The objective was to reach a conclusion as to whether the conditions existed for the women in Liberia to freely express their will through the polls. In order to carry out their mission successfully, the advance team had a series of meetings with key stakeholders, namely Civil Society Organizations, the media and political parties among others. The interactions were fruitful and gave the team a viable background of the Liberian situation prior to the elections. The information gathered 4

enabled the WAWEO observation mission to carry out its mandate successfully and productively as well as make meaningful recommendations.

2. POLLING PROCESS 2.1 Polling Landscape The NEC has demarcated for ease of voting by the 1,779,187 registered voters the following; o 19 magisterial districts/areas o 1,780 polling precincts o 4,500 polling stations The contested positions in the elections were o 1 presidential position o 15 senatorial positions o 73 house of representative seats 2.2 Opening of the poll The polling centers were supposed to open from 0800hrs to 1800hrs. All the five (5) polling centers where the opening process was observed opened on time at 0800hrs. 2.3 Availability of Polling Materials At the time of opening of the polls all the relevant materials were available at the polling station observed. The following materials were checked and accepted as intact by all observers and party agents present: o Ballot Boxes o Seals o Ballot Papers o Voter's Register In all centers observed there were no shortages of polling materials reported. 2.4 Polling Procedure Generally, the polling centers were accessible to voters registered. However in one location a polling place was located on the 3rd floor of a building, challenging pregnant women, disabled and aged voters. Voters who needed assistance to vote (including the visually impaired and physically challenged) were at all times brought to the front of the queue and allowed to vote without delay. Provision was made for the aged, pregnant and women with babies to be given priority to vote. Set-up of some of the polling places strongly influenced the ease of voting by the electorate. Small rooms did not allow for free flow of human traffic and this caused congestion and delay. 5

Set-up of the polling places allowed for secret balloting. In instances where this was compromised the polling booths were moved to ensure secrecy of the ballot. The general procedure followed at the centers observed was: o Presentation of voter's ID card by the voters o Verification of the voter's ID by the Voter Identification Officer o Validation and issuing of the ballot papers by the Ballot Paper Issuer o Voters proceeding to the voting booth to secretly mark by pen or thumbprint their candidate of choice o Application of Electoral Stain by the Inker o Voters casting their ballots guided by the Ballot Box Control officer In the few instances where there were spoiled ballots, they were shown to the party agents and observers then marked and stored according to NEC procedure. The voting process was observed to be slow in some polling places, while in others it proceeded swiftly. All WAWEO observers reported that the atmosphere at the polling stations visited was peaceful with the voter's in cheerful spirits. There was no campaigning going on at or near the polling stations with no observed election posters displayed in or outside the centers. 2.5 Performance of Polling Staff The polling staffs were predominantly youthful and this active engagement of the youth in this vital democratic process has a positive impact on the violence-free electoral process. The staff wore official NEC - Polling Staff aprons which clearly identified them from the electorate. In their interaction with the electorate, party agents and observers, the polling staffs were courteous and patient in explaining electoral procedure to all concerned. They were particular in being impartial, efficient and transparent in their operations. Their efficiency reflected the depth of capacity building that had taken place prior to the elections.

2.6 Voters Conduct At all the 5 polling centers observed, voters had queued before the start of the polling exercise. Some voters mentioned they had queued as early as 0600hrs. Voters followed the polling procedure in an orderly manner, patiently waiting in queues to cast their ballots, despite heavy rain and hot sun. 2.7 Security Security at the polling station was provided by Liberian security agencies. 2.8 Accredited Party and Candidate Agents Political parties and independent candidates were represented by their accredited agents at all the polling stations observed. The following parties were represented at the centers visited. 6

o o o o o o o o o o o

Unity Party Liberian Transformation Party (LTP) National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP) Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) National Democratic Coalition (NDC) Liberty Party (LP) Liberia Destiny Party (LDP) Progressive People's Party (PPP) All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP) Movement for Progressive Change (MPC) Victory for Change Party (VCP)

All agents at the centers comported themselves well and cooperated with the polling staff in the discharge of their duties. They were seated in locations of the polling place where they could clearly observe the voting procedures. They took notes of all proceedings diligently, painstakingly recording the number of voters. They were cordial to each other. 2.9 Observers There were domestic and international observers at the polling stations visited. The domestic observers were from o Election Coordination Committee (ECC), o Human Rights Monitors o Liberian Council of Churches o Community Watch Forum The international observers were from o Electoral Institute of South Africa (ELSA) o Carter Center o ECOWAS o African Union o United Nations o American Embassy o Japan Embassy o Wayne State University o MARWOPNET The observers were professional and went about their activities unobtrusively. 3. CLOSING OF THE POLL At all the polling places observed, polling closed at 1800hrs and there were no queues at the time of closing. Generally, the closing procedure mandated by NEC was followed by the Polling Officer generating a feeling of transparency within the polling station to the satisfaction of all present.

3.1 Reconciliation The polling staff meticulously counted the unused ballot papers and the ballots cast to reconcile all ballots issued for the presidential, senatorial and representative positions. The ballots cast were then securely placed in the ballot boxes and sealed. This was done in the presence and to the satisfaction of all party agents and observers. 3.2 Sorting and Counting Each ballot was sorted according to parties/candidates and the invalid ballots were identified, agreed upon and set aside in envelopes. Counting was conducted in sets of 50s and each candidate's votes were consolidated. The counting process was meticulously done. 3.3 Declaration of Results The PO declared the results and subsequently entered them onto to the results forms. 3.4 Signing of the Results Party agents were invited to sign the results forms to indicate their acceptance of the declared results. Copies of the results were given to the party agents for the three leading parties. Observers were however not given copies of the results. The results were pasted on the walls of the polling center for the attention of all interested.

4.

WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION

It is significant to note that, Liberian women were confident in their participation in the entire electoral process from their representation among the electoral officials, security personnel, party agents and the overwhelming number of women voters. 4.1 Female Candidates Even though the electoral laws do not discriminate against women, the participation of women in this year's elections was very low.

Contested Position Presidential Vice-presidential Senatorial House of Representatives

Total Candidates 16 16 99 NA

Female 2 1 10 NA

A conscious effort from all women's groups and gender sensitive individuals must ensure increased women's participation in the political process. It is time for women's 8

groups to examine the strategies that have been used so far and see how they can be improved upon to increase women's candidature in elections. 4.2 Female Participation in the Electoral Process

4.2.0 Advocating for Peace The women of Liberia lay in the sun and rain praying and fasting for peaceful and violence-free elections. 4.2.1 Participation Female participation in the 2011 Liberia elections was massive. This was manifested by the impressive turn-up of women electorate to vote as well the high number of women who served as party and candidate agents. Above 50% of election observers representing civil society and faith-based organizations were female. This high female representation was reflected in the official personnel from NEC and security personnel maintaining law and order.

5.

CONCERNS o Size of spaces used for polling places In some polling places, the size of the space used hindered the polling processes. o No provision was made for the visually impaired for the voting process

o Citing of polling places In some polling places, the voters had to climb stairs to the 3rd floor to cast their votes. This was prohibitive for some aged and infirm voters. o Lack of understanding of the voting process at the polling places by some of the women voters which slowed down the voting process o The counting process was slow and complicated, particularly by the need of the polling staff to reassure party agents of the transparency of the process. o Insufficient lighting at the polling places slowed down the sorting and counting process. o Starting the election at 0800 and closing the poll at 1800hrs created problems with the closing processes at the polling centers. 6. Recommendations o The size of the polling place should be given high priority as a criterion for selecting the venue for polling. This will ensure that free flow of voters in a polling place.

o Tactile ballots should be provided for the visually impaired and adequate education provided to ensure maximum use of the facility when provided o Citing of polling places should be selected to ensure easy access for the electorate o Continuous voter education targeting women should be intensified and conducted in a timely manner o NEC should investigate alternative means of sorting and counting to hasten the process while maintaining transparency. o Increase provision of adequate lighting for the polling places o The polling process should be started at 0700hrs and completed at 1700hrs to maximize use of daylight for the poll closing processes

CONCLUSION

Finally, we would like to pay tribute to the people of Liberia for their responsible and orderly participation in the 2011 general elections. The NEC demonstrated maturity and gender sensitivity in conducting the entire electoral process. To the women of Liberia who did not only fast and pray, lying in the sun and rain, but who also came out in their numbers to vote, we are proud of you. We commend the political leaders and their parties, for taking part in the electoral process responsibly. They deserve to be congratulated on their demonstrated belief in, and their commitment to democratic values and ethics, particularly to free, fair and transparent elections. This was an election well planned and executed with maximum participation by the people of Liberia. It was violence free, no intimidation or harassment with the electorate free to cast their vote. The electorate's freedom from fear was manifested by the high presence of women everywhere. The voting process proceeded smoothly with electoral rules and regulations adhered to by the political parties and candidates. The nascent democracy and youthfulness of the participants engaged in the electoral process imbued it with buoyancy and excitement The Liberia 2011 general election process experienced its challenges and triumphs in successfully allowing the electorate to exercise their franchise. Therefore, our heartfelt congratulations go to the women and all people of Liberia, the NEC and all actors in the electoral process and urge them to continue striving for the ultimate in democratic standards. 10

APPENDIX 2011 LIBERIA ELECTIONS ARRIVAL STATEMENT Arrival statement by Madam Eunice Roberts, Chairperson Womens Election Observer Group We are here in Liberia to observe the October 11, 2011 General Elections. Our group has been constituted by the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the Women International Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-AFRICA) in response to the call by the West Africa Womens Policy Forum which took place in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire in November 2009. It is my honor and privilege to have been asked to lead the Group and be here in Liberia for these important Elections. As observers we will be serving in our individual capacities. Our task is to observe the gender aspects of the organization and conduct of the Elections in accordance with the Laws of Liberia as well as relevant regional and other international commitments, and at the end reach a conclusion as to whether the conditions existed for the women in Liberia to freely express their will through the polls. We have no executive role. Our function is to observe the process as a whole and form an impartial judgment on the credibility of the exercise. In conducting our duties and undertaking our assessment, we will be impartial and objective. We will be constructive in our observation and remarks, with the intent to help further strengthen womens participation in the democratic process in the country. In the pre-election period, we will meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, representatives of political parties, civil society, media and other international and national observers groups. These meetings should add greatly to our knowledge and appreciation of the situation in Liberia and in turn, go a long way to facilitating our work. I wish the people of Liberia well and encourage women in particular to come out in their numbers to participate in the democratic process and choose freely and fairly those who will govern them. Monrovia, 6th September 2011

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PRELIMINARY STATEMENT, 2011 LIBERIA ELECTIONS By: Mad. Eunice Roberts, Chairperson, West Africa Women's Election Observers (WAWEO)

WAWEO arrived in Liberia on October 5th, 2011 and deployed in three (3) counties; Montserrado, Margibi and Bomi. It is too early to give an overall judgment on the entire electoral process. That judgment will be provided in our final report, however it is possible for me to make some remarks today based on observations of the WAWEO team. First, I want to pay tribute to - the people of Liberia for their responsible and orderly participation in the 2011 general elections, - the women of Liberia who did not only fast and pray, lying in the sun and rain, but also came out in their numbers to vote, and - the political leaders and their parties, who partook responsibly in the electoral process. They deserve to be congratulated on their demonstrated belief in, and their commitment to democratic values and ethics, particularly to free, fair and transparent elections. The general atmosphere before and during the election was essentially peaceful and free of fear. As observers, we had full access to Liberia. The team came to Liberia primarily to observe the gender dimensions of the elections i.e. its organization and conduct, with the intent to strengthen women's participation in democratic processes in West Africa. The team conducted preliminary consultations with stakeholders and institutions involved in the electoral process, namely, the National Elections Commission (NEC), political parties, civil society organizations (including womens groups) and the media in order to gain insights regarding womens place in the Liberian society and the status of their participation in politics and the electoral process.

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It is significant to note that, Liberian women were confident in their participation in the entire electoral process from their representation among the electoral officials, security personnel, party agents and the overwhelming number of women voters. During the pre-election period, the media reported freely and political parties campaigned freely. The chairman, commissioners and staff of NEC deserve to be commended on their overall performance. Organizing elections is a major logistical challenge. In spite of some defects, the overall conduct of the 2011 general elections was well organized and peaceful. Thank you. God bless you.

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