MONROVIA, Montserrado – The chairman of the National Elections Commission, Jerome Korkoya, has clarified an earlier statement attributed to him that all citizens bearing valid voters’ cards will vote on October 10, even if their names are not included on the final voters roll.

Korkoya disclosed at a news conference last Wednesday that citizens bearing legitimate voter registration cards, regardless of whether their data was contained in NEC’s published voter registration list, would fully participate in the October elections.

“People with the issue of unavailability of photos during these exhibition periods should go to the various magistrates for photo taking and every Liberian who has voter card will vote. The errors wouldn’t affect you,” he said. “There is nothing to be worried about. People should stop creating unnecessary alarm.”

Korkoya’s comments followed reports that the names and photos of several registrants across the country were missing from the preliminary voter roll.

Journalists from Margibi and Bong reported that the situation there was one of frustration, as several citizens who registered could not find their names and photos among those posted at their various voter roll exhibition centers.

The NEC chairman encouraged those affected to visit their local NEC magisterial offices to make the necessary corrections.

“People with the issue of unavailability of photos during these exhibition periods should go to the various magistrates for photo taking and every Liberian who has voter card will vote. The errors wouldn’t affect you.”

“There is nothing to be worried about. People should stop creating unnecessary alarm,” he said, adding that the commission was working under extreme circumstances.

While Korkoya’s comments were meant to ease the concerns of individuals who had thought they were registered, only to find that their names were not part of NEC’s official database, the statements raised the possibilities of people who held unofficial registration cards being later added to the voter roll.

Jewel Howard Taylor, the vice standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change, has condemned the NEC’s position on the matter.

Taylor said comments that citizens with voter cards would vote in the elections even when their information was not contained within the voter roll were alarming.

She wants the NEC to ensure that only those on the final voters’ roll vote in the October elections.

According to her, investigations into reports of illegal registration activities during the voter registration exercise have not been concluded.

Except in parts of two districts in Sinoe, the week-long exhibition exercise which kicked off on June 12 ended on Saturday, June 17 at all 2,080 centers.

NEC had earlier announced that heavy rains delayed the launch of the exhibition exercise in the two districts.

Briefing political party representatives at the commission’s headquarters, Korkoya said NEC workers were unable to access sufficient parts of the districts. He said heavy rainfall made roads leading to several centers in the districts almost impossible.

He promised that registrants of the affected parts of Sinoe would be given the same number of days for the exhibition. The period was meant to allow voters to verify their registration information, while people would at the same time challenge registrants who had been erroneously registered.

For example, registered voters who are not Liberian citizens, are below the voting age, or reside in a district different than where they are registered could have their registration challenged.

However, with the unavailability of the names and photos of several registrants, it was difficult to know or challenge other registrants.

Korkoya clarified on Monday in a Truth FM interview that his comments did not mean that illegal registrants would be allowed to vote in the elections.

He assured that corrections would be made before the publication of the final voters’ roll is released.

Meanwhile, nomination of candidates by political parties and coalition has also officially begun.

The process will allow registered political parties, coalitions to nominate their candidates for contestable positions. It will end on July 11.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah