The National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia continues its nationwide county-to-county consultations on electoral law reform, with the latest session held in Kakata on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in Margibi County.

These consultations started on November 7 in Greenville, Sinoe County, and continued in Rivercess and Grand Bassa Counties on November 8 and 10. They are being carried out in partnership with the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, with support from the European Union, Irish Aid, and the Government of Sweden.

The initiative aims to engage citizens and key stakeholders across Liberia in reviewing and strengthening the country’s electoral laws to ensure future elections are conducted within a robust legal framework that reflects national realities and international best practices.

During the Buchanan session, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Chairperson of the NEC, emphasized the importance of inclusive reform. 

“The meeting you have come to sets the pace for the future governance, administration, and management of elections in Liberia. Elections are everybody’s business, and your presence demonstrates our shared commitment to remain engaged for Liberia’s common good.”

Madam Lansanah noted that the consultations provide a platform for citizens and the Commission to jointly assess areas of the existing electoral law that may require revision.

“As circumstances evolve, some provisions may no longer serve their intended purpose. This process allows us to return to the drawing board, to review what works, identify what needs to change, and strengthen our collective understanding of the law,” she noted.

Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Representative of Sinoe County and Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, stressed that the reform process must go beyond legislative adjustments.

“We are not here just to change laws. This is about building trust in our institutions, trust in our elections, and trust among the people. It is about ensuring that everyone feels included, feels part of the process, and is counted,” Representative Quiah emphasized.

He also called for greater women’s participation in politics and governance. “A democracy that excludes women weakens itself. Women are not only voters; they are leaders, builders, and partners in progress.”

At the Kakata session, Marie-Paul Neuville, Programme Officer for the EU Delegation to Liberia, reaffirmed the EU’s support for inclusive democratic processes.

“Democracy is not only about election day; it is a continuous process that involves everyone. Consultations like this are key to defining better public policy and shaping a stronger electoral law,” she affirmed.

Mr. Aagon Tingba, UNDP Political Party/Campaign Finance Specialist, highlighted the importance of citizen engagement. “Electoral reform is fundamentally about citizens’ participation—a form of pre-legislative scrutiny where people come together to assess and propose what changes should be made to the law.”

The consultations bring together diverse stakeholders, including local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, youth and women’s groups, disabled people’s organizations, religious leaders, the media, and members of the joint security sector.

Currently underway in the southeastern counties of Maryland, Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, and River Gee, the consultations will continue across all 15 counties. 

Citizens’ input will inform NEC’s legal reform proposals to the Legislature, ensuring that recommendations are transparent, evidence-based, and aligned with Liberia’s international and regional commitments.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project, managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the NEC, supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance.