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.

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[edit]

Presidential elections[edit]

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 WeahJewel TaylorCoalition for Democratic Change804,08743.83793,91449.36
Joseph BoakaiJeremiah KoungUnity Party796,96143.44814,48150.64
Edward W. AppletonAlex GonteeGrassroots Development Movement40,2712.20
Lusinee KamaraMatthew DarbloAll Liberia Coalition Party35,9881.96
Alexander B. Cummings Jr.Charlyne BrumskineCollaborating Political Parties29,6131.61
Tiawan Saye GongloeEmmanuel YarkpawoloLiberian People's Party26,3941.44
Allen R. Brown Jr.Noosevett WeahLiberia Restoration Party15,6070.85
Simeon FreemanJames BarclayMovement for Progressive Change13,2050.72
William Wiah TuiderJonah DumoeDemocratic National Allegiance11,1840.61
Joshua Tom TurnerSomah PaygaiNew Liberia Party9,8130.53
Jeremiah WhapoeErasmus FahnbullehVision for Liberia Transformation9,1490.50
Luther YorfeeJuvenal PearsonLiberia Rebuilding Party6,4790.35
Bendu KromahThomas KruahIndependent5,9910.33
Clarence MonibaGrace-Tee KpaanLiberia National Union5,2980.29
Sherikh KouyatehMax VargbeleeLiberia First Movement5,1000.28
David KiamuAnnie TuazamaDemocratic People's Party of Liberia5,0860.28
Alexander KollieGrace YuanReformers National Congress4,3980.24
Sara Beysolow NyantiSimeon MoribahAfrican Liberation League3,6440.20
Robert Franz MorrisCelia BrownIndependent3,3630.18
Richard Saye MillerEmike SlawonLiberian for Prosperity Party2,8850.16
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[edit]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Coalition for Democratic Change (CDCNPPLPDP)239,75415.5721+7
Unity Party220,50814.3220−4
Liberty Party131,9808.573−4
Alternative National Congress93,4756.070New
People's Unification Party90,4215.875New
All Liberian Party77,0135.003New
Movement for Economic Empowerment59,2683.851New
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction56,7343.692New
Coalition for Liberia's Progress50,7323.300New
Liberia Transformation Party49,6213.2210
United People's Party47,3573.081New
Victory for Change Party28,3851.841+1
Liberian People's Party24,2871.581New
Vision for Liberia Transformation21,3241.390New
Grassroot Democratic Party of Liberia20,5881.3400
Liberia National Union20,2271.311+1
Movement for Progressive Change19,9801.300−2
True Whig Party14,7230.960New
Liberia Restoration Party11,6900.760New
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[edit]

PartyVotes%Seats
Congress for Democratic Change135,89729.782
Liberty Party52,35111.472
Unity Party47,12310.334
National Patriotic Party27,6026.051
People's Unification Party22,5284.941
Alternative National Congress18,9174.151
Alliance for Peace and Democracy18,4104.030
National Democratic Coalition5,7261.251
Union of Liberian Democrats4,0920.900
Liberia Transformation Party3,6800.810
Grassroot Democratic Party of Liberia3,1540.690
Movement for Progressive Change3,0380.670
Liberia National Union1,7790.390
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[edit]

References[edit]

  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.

External links[edit]