Elections in Liberia

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Elections in Liberia occur solely at the national level. The head of state, the President of Liberia, is elected to a six-year term in a two-round system, in which a run-off between the two candidates with the highest number of votes is held should no single candidate earn a majority of the vote in the first round. The Legislature has two elected chambers.

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The House of Representatives has 73 members, elected to six-year terms by the first-past-the-post method in single-member districts. The Senate has 30 members, 2 from each county, elected at-large to nine-year terms by the first-past-the-post method. Senatorial elections are staggered, with one senator from each county being elected in elections held three years apart, followed by a six-year period in which no senatorial elections are held.

All citizens who are 18 years or older may register to vote in elections. Under Article 83(a) of the Constitution, elections are held on the second Tuesday of October every election year, with presidential run-off elections being held on the second Tuesday following the announcement of the results of the first round. Elections are regulated by the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC).

The first round of a general election to elect the President and House of Representatives on 10 October 2017, resulted in a run-off between ex-football star George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai. [1] George Weah won the run-off with more than 60% of the ballots cast. [2]

Latest elections

Presidential elections

No candidate won a majority in the first round, with Weah narrowly placing first over opposition leader Joseph Boakai, which meant both advanced to a runoff held on 14 November 2023. [3] [4]

Boakai defeated Weah 51% to 49% in the closest runoff in Liberia's electoral history. [5] [6]

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
George Weah Jewel Taylor Coalition for Democratic Change 804,08743.83793,91449.36
Joseph Boakai Jeremiah Koung Unity Party 796,96143.44814,48150.64
Edward W. Appleton Alex Gontee Grassroots Development Movement 40,2712.20
Lusinee Kamara Matthew Darblo All Liberia Coalition Party 35,9881.96
Alexander B. Cummings Jr. Charlyne Brumskine Collaborating Political Parties 29,6131.61
Tiawan Saye Gongloe Emmanuel Yarkpawolo Liberian People's Party 26,3941.44
Allen R. Brown Jr. Noosevett Weah Liberia Restoration Party 15,6070.85
Simeon Freeman James Barclay Movement for Progressive Change 13,2050.72
William Wiah Tuider Jonah Dumoe Democratic National Allegiance 11,1840.61
Joshua Tom Turner Somah Paygai New Liberia Party 9,8130.53
Jeremiah Whapoe Erasmus Fahnbulleh Vision for Liberia Transformation 9,1490.50
Luther Yorfee Juvenal Pearson Liberia Rebuilding Party 6,4790.35
Bendu Kromah Thomas KruahIndependent5,9910.33
Clarence Moniba Grace-Tee Kpaan Liberia National Union 5,2980.29
Sherikh Kouyateh Max Vargbelee Liberia First Movement 5,1000.28
David Kiamu Annie Tuazama Democratic People's Party of Liberia 5,0860.28
Alexander Kollie Grace Yuan Reformers National Congress 4,3980.24
Sara Beysolow Nyanti Simeon Moribah African Liberation League 3,6440.20
Robert Franz Morris Celia BrownIndependent3,3630.18
Richard Saye Miller Emike Slawon Liberian for Prosperity Party 2,8850.16
Total1,834,516100.001,608,395100.00
Valid votes1,834,51694.121,608,39598.42
Invalid/blank votes114,6395.8825,7881.58
Total votes1,949,155100.001,634,183100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.862,471,61766.12
Source: NEC (candidates), NEC

House of Representatives elections

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Coalition for Democratic Change 401,92122.1225+4
Unity Party 237,93113.0911−9
Collaborating Political Parties (ANCLP)137,9097.596New
People's Unification Party 78,9134.342−3
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction 50,4082.774+2
All Liberian Party 45,8862.531−2
Liberia National Union 42,1792.3210
Movement for One Liberia38,8842.140New
Liberian People's Party 35,4001.950−1
National Development Party32,2021.770New
Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia26,1021.440New
All Liberia Coalition Party 23,4361.290New
African Liberation League20,5621.130New
Liberia Transformation Party 19,0871.050−1
Democratic National Allegiance18,9591.040New
Movement for Progressive Change 18,9461.041+1
National Democratic Coalition 18,7681.031New
Vision for Liberia Transformation 14,6410.811+1
United Independent Democrats14,3930.790New
Liberia Restoration Party 13,6040.751+1
New Liberia Party10,0570.5500
Democratic People's Party of Liberia9,8500.540New
Liberia Rebuilding Party9,7680.540New
Liberia First Movement8,6080.470New
Rainbow Alliance (TWPVCP)8,5740.470New
Liberian for Prosperity Party4,4990.250New
Reformers National Congress3,1160.170New
African Democratic Movement of Liberia2,3030.130New
All Liberians Solidarity Party1,9400.110New
Greater Action Party of Liberia8310.050New
Grassroots Development Movement 2280.010New
Independents467,10525.7119+6
Total1,817,010100.00730
Valid votes1,817,01094.10
Invalid/blank votes113,9625.90
Total votes1,930,972100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.13
Source: NEC

Senate elections

PartyVotes%Seats
Total
before
UpWonTotal
after
+/–
Coalition for Democratic Change 620,89234.266 [lower-alpha 1] 3 [lower-alpha 2] 69+3
Unity Party 218,13812.046413–3
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction 128,4377.091012+1
People's Unification Party 86,4664.772101–1
Collaborating Political Parties (ANCLP)83,4234.606 [lower-alpha 3] 3 [lower-alpha 4] 03–3
Liberia National Union 41,6812.3000000
Liberian People's Party 39,7182.1900000
United Independent Democrats30,1491.660000New
All Liberia Coalition Party 29,3621.6200000
Liberia Restoration Party 26,5751.470011+1
All Liberian Party 14,1210.7810010
National Development Party7,0770.390000New
Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia6,5900.360000New
Rainbow Alliance (TWPVCP)6,5520.3600000
Movement for One Liberia5,8230.3200000
Democratic National Allegiance5,2060.290000New
All Liberians Solidarity Party3,7640.210000New
Vision for Liberia Transformation 3,6090.2000000
New Liberia Party3,4250.1900000
Liberia Transformation Party 2,8810.1600000
National Democratic Coalition 2,4430.131100–1
Greater Action Party of Liberia2,1200.120000New
Movement for Progressive Change 2,0460.1100000
Liberia Rebuilding Party6640.040000New
Independents441,00124.3473610+3
Total1,812,163100.00301515300
Valid votes1,812,16393.37
Invalid/blank votes128,6946.63
Total votes1,940,857100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.53
Source: NEC

See also

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References

  1. "National Elections Commission Liberia". NEC. 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. "George Weah elected Liberian president". bbc.com. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  3. "Liberia election results: George Weah and Joseph Boakai face run-off vote". BBC News. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  4. "Liberia Presidential Election Run-off Holds November 14". 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  5. "Weah congratulates Boakai after Liberia poll". BBC News. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. "President Weah's full concession speech". New Dawn Liberia. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.