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 (CDCNPPLPDP)239,75415.5721+7
Unity Party 220,50814.3220−4
Liberty Party 131,9808.573−4
Alternative National Congress 93,4756.070New
People's Unification Party 90,4215.875New
All Liberian Party 77,0135.003New
Movement for Economic Empowerment 59,2683.851New
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction 56,7343.692New
Coalition for Liberia's Progress50,7323.300New
Liberia Transformation Party 49,6213.2210
United People's Party 47,3573.081New
Victory for Change Party 28,3851.841+1
Liberian People's Party 24,2871.581New
Vision for Liberia Transformation 21,3241.390New
Grassroot Democratic Party of Liberia20,5881.3400
Liberia National Union 20,2271.311+1
Movement for Progressive Change 19,9801.300−2
True Whig Party 14,7230.960New
Liberia Restoration Party 11,6900.760New
Democratic Justice Party7,4150.480New
Change Democratic Action7,1660.470New
Redemption Democratic Congress5,7310.370New
Liberians for Prosperity6280.040New
New Liberia Party4940.030New
Independents240,00115.5913−2
Total1,539,502100.00730
Valid votes1,539,50294.86
Invalid/blank votes83,4275.14
Total votes1,622,929100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,183,62974.32
Source: NEC, NEC, Carter Center

Senate elections

PartyVotes%Seats
Congress for Democratic Change 135,89729.782
Liberty Party 52,35111.472
Unity Party 47,12310.334
National Patriotic Party 27,6026.051
People's Unification Party 22,5284.941
Alternative National Congress 18,9174.151
Alliance for Peace and Democracy 18,4104.030
National Democratic Coalition 5,7261.251
Union of Liberian Democrats 4,0920.900
Liberia Transformation Party3,6800.810
Grassroot Democratic Party of Liberia3,1540.690
Movement for Progressive Change3,0380.670
Liberia National Union 1,7790.390
Victory for Change Party1,2660.280
Independents110,70724.263
Total456,270100.0015
Valid votes456,27095.07
Invalid/blank votes23,6664.93
Total votes479,936100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,903,22925.22
Source: NEC, 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. "President Weah's full concession speech". New Dawn Liberia. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.