By Seedy Jobe
A coalition of opposition parties and civil society organizations has called for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the country’s voter register, citing what it described as “alarming irregularities,” including reports that minors have been issued voter identification cards.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, April 25, the groups pointed to the Independent Electoral Commission’s acknowledgment of 2,800 cases of double registration. They also cited accounts from communities in the Upper River, Central River, and West Coast Regions alleging that individuals below the legal voting age had been registered.
The coalition warned that such developments threaten the integrity of the electoral process. “A compromised roll produces a compromised election,” the statement said. “That is unacceptable.”
Referencing legal requirements, the groups noted that eligibility to vote is clearly defined under national law. Only citizens aged 18 and above are permitted to register, they said, citing provisions in the Constitution and the Elections Act.
They further called for accountability, warning that officials or individuals found to have facilitated the registration of minors could face legal consequences. The coalition urged authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible and to publicly disclose any underage registrations that are identified and removed.
Among its demands, the coalition called on the electoral commission to conduct a full biometric and age verification audit before publishing the provisional voter register. It also urged the commission to release constituency-level data on cases of underage and duplicate entries.
The statement proposed additional measures to strengthen transparency, including a 30-day public display of the provisional register at polling stations, the introduction of an SMS verification system for voters to report irregularities, and regular press briefings on the registration process.
Political parties were also urged to reject any advantage gained through irregular practices. The coalition proposed that parties commit to a public pledge holding candidates accountable for the actions of their agents during registration.
Addressing law enforcement agencies, the groups called for voter fraud to be treated as a serious offense, including investigating individuals accused of transporting minors to registration centers.
Parents were cautioned against allowing children to be used in the process. “A voter card for a minor is not empowerment,” the statement said, “but a potential legal liability.”
The coalition concluded by warning that failure to address the concerns could undermine the credibility of the 2026 elections. It called on electoral authorities to take corrective action and on the judiciary to enforce existing laws.
The statement was endorsed by a range of political parties and civil society organizations and signed by Ebrima S. Bah, secretary of the Joint Opposition and Civil Society Committee on Electoral Integrity.
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