MONROVIA, October 17 (LINA) – The National Elections Commission (NEC) Thursday has consultations aimed at finding a suitable date to hold the Special Senatorial Election in the wake of a Joint Resolution by the National Legislature.
A NEC release noted that the Joint Resolution seeks flexibility for the Special election to be conducted in counties where the prevalence of Ebola is minimal.
The Resolution mandates the Commission to conduct the Special Senatorial Election no later than December 20 this year.
During Thursday’s meeting, the Chairman and members of the National Traditional Council of Liberia, the inter-religious Council and the Liberia Council of Churches supported the NEC’s suggestion to recommend to the authorities flexibility in conducting the Special Senatorial Election in the event there is an upsurge in the Ebola situation during the period up to December 20, 2014.
Meanwhile, the Commission will continue consultations with political parties, independent candidates, student and youth groupings, the civil society and the Press Union of Liberia, the release said.
The NEC also plans to host regional meetings to inform the electorate and other stakeholders across the country on progress being made towards the conduct of the Special Senatorial Election.
It can be recalled that on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, the Deputy Chief medical Officer of Liberia made a PowerPoint presentation at a gathering of authorities and personnel of the Commission on the state of the Ebola virus outbreak across Liberia.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, acting pursuant to the powers vested in her by both the Constitution of Liberia and the Declaration of the State of Emergency, on October 4, 2014 issued a Proclamation suspending the holding of the October 14, 2014 Senatorial Election.
The proclamation also suspended all voting rights associated and connected with the Senatorial Election.
This was followed by the Joint Resolution of the National Legislature mandating the NEC to hold the Special Senatorial polls before December 20.
LINA GDJ/PTK/JKW