ALCOD shifts its advocacy focus to out-of-country voting for diaspora Liberians by consulting legal experts. This initiative seeks government clarification on absentee voting rights as per constitutional provisions. The organization encourages collaboration among diaspora groups and lawmakers to effectively pursue this objective.
The All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD) is shifting its focus to advocate for out-of-country voting for diaspora Liberians. This pivot follows discussions with esteemed legal experts who emphasize the importance of understanding the government’s official stance on absentee voting before proceeding with advocacy strategies. ALCOD seeks to ensure that every Liberian citizen benefits from their constitutional rights to register and vote, particularly through absentee ballots.
During the Diaspora Liberians Annual Return 2024 event, ALCOD officials engaged with constitutional and human rights lawyers to refine their out-of-country voting proposal. A major aspect of this advocacy hinges on Article 80 Section ‘C’ of the 1986 Constitution, which affirms citizens’ rights to participate in elections via absentee ballots.
The ALCOD delegation was encouraged to formally appeal to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. for clarification on the terms “constituency” and “absentee ballot” as mentioned in the constitution. Counselor Tiawan Saye Gongloe, a respected human rights lawyer, advised that clarity from the government is vital for formulating effective strategies for promoting out-of-country voting.
ALCOD has tasked its Eminent Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee, to spearhead this initiative by reaching out to President Boakai for the necessary definitions and to coordinate with diaspora groups to amplify their advocacy efforts. In previous interactions with the National Elections Commission (NEC), ALCOD reported a willingness from the NEC to facilitate out-of-country voting, contingent upon proper funding and infrastructure.
In addition to its ongoing discussions with NEC officials, ALCOD has collaborated with supportive lawmakers to amend existing laws to enable out-of-country voting. The organization calls on all diaspora Liberians and groups to unify their efforts in appealing to the president regarding absentee voting.
ALCOD, which has successfully advocated for dual citizenship since its founding in 2012, aims to replicate this success for out-of-country voting. They recognize the hard work of individuals such as Mr. Michael Mueller and Cllr. Jerome Verdier, who are pursuing complementary advocacy for absentee voting.
In summary, ALCOD is pivoting its advocacy efforts towards out-of-country voting for Liberians in the diaspora by seeking government clarification on critical terms related to absentee voting. The organization emphasizes the need for collaboration between legal experts, lawmakers, and diaspora communities to achieve its objectives. By leveraging previous successes in dual citizenship advocacy, ALCOD aims to ensure that all Liberians are able to exercise their voting rights from abroad.
Original Source: www.liberianobserver.com
