Introduction:
This technical report provides information on activities undertaken by the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) to observe the by-elections held on April 23, 2024, in Nimba County and District Number One in Grand Gedeh County. The observation was done as part of the Liberia Domestic Election Observation (LIDEO) Activity supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Legal Requirement:
The conduct of by-elections in Liberia is a constitutional mandate. Article 37 of the 1986 Constitution states: “In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections Commission thereof. The Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by-election to be held, provided that where such vacancy occurs within 90 days before the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections”.
Action from the Legislature:
In compliance with the above constitutional provision, the Legislature notified the Commission on February 1, 2024 of the existence of the two vacancies, one in the Senate and the other in the House of Representatives (HoR). The conduct of the by-elections on April 23, 2024 by NEC was in keeping with the provision cited above.
Rationale:
According to Article 37 of the 1986 Constitution, the by-election in Grand Gedeh County was held due to the death of Rep. Erol Madison Gwion of District Number One, who was re-elected during the 2023 elections. In the Nimba case, the senatorial by-election was conducted due to the election of Jeremiah Koung as Vice President in the 2023 presidential election.
Download the full version of the ECC Final Observation Report _By elections 2024