The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has released a press statement today, outlining the latest developments in preparation for the highly anticipated Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council elections scheduled for June 24, 2023.

In the official statement, the ECSL provided the following updates:

  1. Arrival of Ballot Papers: On June 19, 2023, the ECSL received the ballot papers for the upcoming elections. A special cargo jet delivered these crucial materials to the Lungi International Airport, and they have been promptly distributed to the 16 electoral districts across the country.
  2. Tactile Ballot Guides (TBG): Alongside the ballot papers, the ECSL also received TBGs, which will aid voters with visual impairments during the voting process. Each polling station will have access to two TBGs per election, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all voters.
  3. Provision of Electronic Voters Register: The ECSL has provided electronic copies of the final voters register to all political parties participating in the elections, facilitating transparency and cooperation in the electoral process.
  4. Early Voting for Hajj Pilgrims: To accommodate citizens participating in the Hajj pilgrimage, early voting was held on June 15, 2023, at all 16 District Offices throughout the country.
  5. Ample Ballot Supplies: A total of 3,374,258 ballot sheets have been delivered, including a 5% buffer for any unforeseen contingencies. Additionally, 8 TBGs per polling station have been distributed across the 11,832 stations country-wide.
  6. Reprinted Voter Registration Cards: The ECSL has reprinted 19,612 voter registration cards for individuals who experienced issues with their initial cards. The distribution of these cards will take place from June 22 to June 24, 2023, at ECSL District Offices. Voters are required to present attestation documents and their photo-less voter registration cards to receive the reprinted cards.
  7. Ongoing Training and Deployment: The training of polling and tally center staff is currently underway and will conclude today, June 21, 2023. Furthermore, the deployment of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the districts is in the advanced stage.
  8. Accessibility Measures: Booth construction and the installation of ramps and planks are being carried out at polling centers to ensure they are disabled-friendly and accommodate all voters during the polling and counting process.
  9. Regional Result Tally Centers: The setup of regional result tally centers has been completed, and successful testing of data transmission between these centers and the National Tally Center has been conducted.
  10. Accreditation of Election Stakeholders: The process of accrediting election stakeholders, both at the national and district levels, is currently ongoing.
  11. Election Day Reminder: The ECSL reaffirms that the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council elections will proceed as scheduled on June 24, 2023, across all 11,832 polling stations in the 16 districts of Sierra Leone.
  12. Gratitude to Irish Aid: The ECSL expresses its gratitude to Irish Aid for their invaluable support in ensuring the payment of polling staff, a crucial component of a smooth and successful election process.

As the nation eagerly awaits the upcoming elections, the ECSL remains committed to conducting a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, providing citizens with an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and shape the future of Sierra Leone.