Monrovia —On Friday, 19 December 2025, Liberians living abroad held a roundtable discussion with the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC-Liberia) on their possible inclusion in the country’s future electoral processes.
The engagement, held at the NEC headquarters on 9th Street, Sinkor, brought together members of the NEC Board of Commissioners, the Secretariat, and representatives of the Liberian diaspora.
According to a statement from the NEC, the discussion focused on clarifying the legal framework governing elections and exploring practical options that could allow diaspora Liberians to register and vote in future elections.
The visiting diaspora delegation was led by the Coordinator and Deputy Minister for Diaspora Affairs at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Erasmus T. Williams.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that Liberians living abroad are given the opportunity to actively participate in national elections.
However, NEC Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, explained that the primary challenge to diaspora participation lies within the current legal framework.
She noted that existing law requires a citizen to be physically present in a specific constituency during the official voter registration period to be registered.
Supporting this position, the NEC Head of the Legal Section, Cllr. Alvin Teage Jalloh stated that enabling diaspora Liberians to vote would require new legislation or amendments to existing laws.
Cllr. Jalloh further suggested possible reforms, including the designation of Liberian embassies and consulates abroad as extensions of the Republic for voter registration purposes, among others.
The right to vote is enshrined in the Liberian Constitution, which guarantees that every citizen has the right to be registered in a constituency and to vote in public elections.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continued dialogue, as the diaspora group pledged to advocate for the necessary legislative amendments to allow Liberians abroad to participate in future elections.
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