THE ECC URGES NEC TO RELEASE ELECTIONS RESULTS TWICE A DAY TO AVOID POST ELECTION TENSION FROM MISINFORMATION.

MONROVIA – The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to enhance the frequency of reporting election results to at least twice a day, aiming to counteract the potential spread of misinformation and alleviate post-election tensions.

Cllr. Oscar Bloh, ECC Chairman, addressed the media in a preliminary press conference on Wednesday, providing insights into the ECC’s observations during the electoral cycle, particularly focusing on the presidential runoff election. He emphasized that delayed announcements of election results, especially in a presidential runoff, could lead to chaos fueled by misinformation from social media, radio stations, and political party war rooms.

Addressing the NEC directly, Cllr. Bloh stated, “Considering that there are only two candidates, ECC urges the National Elections Commission (NEC) to increase the frequency (at least twice a day) of reporting election results to dispel doubts and the spread of misinformation.”

In addition to urging prompt result releases, Cllr. Bloh called on the NEC to treat electoral disputes impartially, addressing them promptly and transparently. He recommended that, for transparency and trust-building, the NEC should publish election results by polling place in an analyzable format and without unnecessary delays.

With a call for calm and patience, the ECC encouraged all candidates and Liberians to await the official results from the NEC. Stressing the importance of managing citizens’ expectations, Cllr. Bloh urged the NEC to promptly announce the election results in the interest of democratic consolidation.

The ECC Chairman disclosed that the statement was based on reports received from 1,185 out of 1,200 stationary observers deployed nationwide to observe the electoral process. Cllr. Bloh assured the public that the ECC would continue to provide updates on the remaining components of the process and would later publish a final comprehensive report, including recommendations for electoral reform.

Commenting on other aspects of the electoral process, Cllr. Bloh acknowledged the strategic improvement in the quality of the Final Registration Roll (FRR) due to the transition from manual to Biometric Voter Registration by the NEC.

He also highlighted concerns about the erosion of representative democracy, citing the organized and systematic trucking of voters by politicians as a practice that undermines the principle of fair representation. Additionally, Cllr. Bloh expressed disappointment in the low representation of women in the political sphere, noting that the number of women candidates and elected representatives fell short of commitments made by political parties to ensure at least 30% female representation.

In the absence of laws mandating increased women’s participation, Cllr. Bloh warned that women’s political representation would likely continue to decline.