By Makutu Manneh
The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) has cautioned politicians against attempting to resolve voter eligibility disputes at registration centers, saying such challenges should instead be handled through established legal channels after the registration process is complete.
Yusupha Bojang, the council’s chief civic education officer, said the presence of disputes at registration sites risks disrupting the process and creating unnecessary confusion.
“Both civil society and politicians are observing, but registration centers are not places to settle disputes,” Mr. Bojang said in an interview on QTV. “When we have concerns, let us document all the gaps and irregularities we think are happening.”
Under the country’s electoral framework, objections to voter eligibility are made after the Independent Electoral Commission publishes a provisional voter register, which is open for public inspection for 10 days. That period is followed by an additional 14-day window during which formal objections or appeals may be filed.
Afterward, a revising court is convened for a 60-day period. During that time, the chief justice appoints magistrates across the regions to hear and determine challenges to the voter list.
Mr. Bojang noted that the law obliges election officials to register any applicant who presents the required documentation at a registration center, underscoring that eligibility disputes are intended to be resolved later in the process.
“The law says the IEC shall register the person with the required documentation,” he said.
He urged anyone who believes an ineligible individual has been registered to wait for the formal objection process once the revising court is established.
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