|
Liberia
General Right to
Vote
Constitution:
(1986)
Article 30 discusses qualifications for membership in the Legislature.
Article 52 discusses qualifications for eligibility to be President
or Vice President.
Article 77, section (b) states: "All elections shall be by
secret ballot as may be determined by the Elections Commission, and every
Liberian citizen not less than 18 years of age, shall have the right to
be registered as a voter and to vote in public elections and referenda
under this Constitution. The Legislature shall enact laws indicating the
category of Liberians who shall not form or become members of political
parties."
Exclusion Based
on Mental Disability
Electoral Law:
(1996)
Section 3.1 states: "Every citizen of Liberia who has attained
the age of eighteen years or older, may register as a voter except one
who has been judicially declared to be incompetent or of unsound mind
"
Voter Assistance
by Other Citizens
Electoral Law:
(1996)
Section 5.8 states: "A voter who is unlettered or physically
incapacitated of voting may request an assistance of a helper to mark
his ballot in the presence of an election officer. The Clerk shall enter
on the register opposite the name of such assisted voter, the reason for
such assistance. The one assisting the voter shall retire with him in
an unoccupied compartment along with an election officer and at his direction,
help him in the preparation and marking of his ballot and return the ballot
paper properly folded for deposit in the official ballot box."
Poll Worker Manuals:
Staff Procedures Manual for the 1997 Special Elections: Produced by the
Independent Elections Commission of Liberia
People accompanying physically handicapped applicants the Registration
Center may enter with them p 12
All applicants must register in person p 12
Any voter who is physically incapacitated may be assisted by someone
of his or her choice to mark the ballot paper in the presence of an election
officer. The assistant shall enter the voting compartment with the voter
and the Election Officer and help the Voter mark the ballot paper 12
Off-Site Voting
Alternatives
Electoral Law:
(1996)
Section 5.5 discusses absentee voting. It is unclear whether this
method of voting is available to the disabled.
Poll Worker Manuals:
Staff Procedures Manual for the 1997 Special Elections: Produced by the
Independent Elections Commission of Liberia
Persons in the hospital may not register during the Registration
Period. The program will only register persons at Registration Centres
during the Registration Period p 26
Indelible Ink Excusal
Poll Worker Manuals:
Staff Procedures Manual for the 1997 Special Elections: Produced by the
Independent Elections Commission of Liberia
Thumb ink provision for those applicants who cannot sign his/her
name to the Registration Form and the Voter Registration Card p 15
|