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Voter registration began on Saturday 3 September 2022, across the country. Early reports indicate a “mixed bag” of experiences – from long queues to late starts – to appreciative registrants.
Registration at the St. Francis Secondary School, in Makeni, started a little after 7am with voters lining up in the early morning hours to ensure they registered. One registrant said he was at the registration centre at 4am.
In the eastern parts of Freetown, there were complaints of late starts and long lines. Mohamed Conteh said he showed up in his Ward before 6am and by 8am, the process still had not started. “Apparently, the staff were waiting for materials and other people,” he said. “I was told I had to wait for the NCRA people before I could register.”
In Brookfields, near central Freetown, a registrant said, “The ECSL staff are excellent, party agents for both the APC and SLPP are vigilant and it only took about five minutes to check my name and register.”
In Bo, videos showed voter registration going on smoothly. Potential voters are spending less time to register and the wait time is less when compared with other centres.
At Hillside Baptist Church, in Freetown, the registration process was very late to start. As of 10am, registration materials were yet to arrive. At the Prince Alie School in Lunsar, only 10 people had registered by 10am and citizens in the long queue were concerned about the process moving slowly.
In Kamakwie, reports of faulty machines have circulated on social media. This has made it impossible for potential voters to be registered. ECSL staff in that centre have reportedly postponed the registration for tomorrow while they await the supply of functional equipment.
Fatmata Conteh, near the Up Gun area, said she waited for almost an hour but was very happy to have her name checked and be registered to vote in June 2023.
On Friday 2 September 2022, the Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, said the voter registration will begin, as scheduled, on Saturday the 3rd September in readiness for 24 June 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections.
The voter registration process will be in two phases. Each phase takes 15 days and at every phase, the designated registration centers will be opened at 7am and close at 5pm across the country in every constituency and ward. The first phase will start on 3rd September and ends on 17th September. The Commission will need two days to mobilize equipment and staff across the country to start the 2nd phase on 20th September and ends on 4th October 2022.
Documents required for registration are a valid Sierra Leonean passport, previous Voter ID card, a National ID card, certificate of registration from NCRA, or Sierra Leonean birth certificate.
