The National Elections Commission (NEC) has begun the much-anticipated Biometric Voter’s Registration (BVR) exercise in six counties; a key component for the conduct of the Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
The counties are Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Bomi, as it is expected to run from Monday, March 20 to Sunday, April 9, 2023.
The exercise according to our Liberia’s correspondent is phase one, as centers in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Bomi and Margibi counties all experienced a slow start.
Accordingly, centers in Paynesville District including the World-Wide Mission and Rick-C Daycare Schools located at Duport Road, Paynesville Town Hall, Paynesville Community High School at Joe Bar, the Mother Sarah School in Zubah Town as well as the Stronger Hope Central Academy, the exercise kicked off peacefully without much hindrance.
In Gardnersville Township and Logan Town, would-be registrants were in queues eager to get registered and for example; at the Mac Foundation Christian Academy, Salvation Christian Foundation, and the Boatswain Junior High School saw huge attendance.
Though, there were some delays at some centers due to those recruited, trained and deployed to do the work had trouble-shooting with the equipment usage and the process did not begin until supervisors arrived and made some corrections with those gadgets; the exercise then officially began.
Despite the poor start in attendance on the first day witnessing registrants awaiting NEC staff, the exercise at various centers visited by African Entertainment so far were peaceful.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission (NEC) is pleased that the BVR kicked off as planned and thereby admitted that it is aware that there were some minor technical glitches on day one. “Basically to do with lack of understanding by some of our temporary staff on how to operate the technology adding that as with the introduction of every technology, it is not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected.”
The commission acknowledged that at VR centers today, technicians were on hand to resolve any challenges and registrants and observers can attest that there were improvements during the day.
The NEC assures the public that despite the initial glitches, the commission is fully prepared to implement the biometric registration of voters and guarantees that as we address these challenges, the process will run smoothly.
“BVR is new to Liberia, and we want to assure Liberians that we are learning how to do this together and the commission wishes to thank all Liberians who turned out today and registered. We are proud of history and call on Liberians 18 years and above to register in the Phase One counties,” the NEC release stated.
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