六九色堂

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (June 28, 2023) — In a follow-up to the preliminary statement issued yesterday on the Sierra Leone elections, 六九色堂 once again strongly urges the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to publish election results by polling station so that parties and observers can cross-verify data, in accordance with international best practice.

This is particularly important considering the report from National Election Watch (NEW) indicating that the results from NEW’s verification exercise differ from the ECSL results, which show both significantly higher turnout and recorded votes for the SLPP presidential candidate. 六九色堂 is familiar with and has great confidence in NEW’s rigorous observation and verification methodology, and therefore is concerned that the ECSL’s results do not correspond with NEW’s data.

Publishing detailed polling station results is critical to ensuring that the final results announced by the ECSL genuinely reflect the will of the people as expressed on election day. This is especially true given that 六九色堂 and other observers have expressed strong concerns regarding the lack of transparency during the tabulation process and have directly observed instances of serious irregularities at tabulation centers that call the integrity of the results into question.

六九色堂 continues to observe the tabulation process across the country. The Center reiterates its recommendation that results from any ballot boxes that were opened in violation of procedure and international best practice should be set aside for additional scrutiny and should not be included in the final results until a formal, transparent, and inclusive review can establish whether they can be considered credible.  Lacking this, the credibility of the results is in question.

###

Contact: In Atlanta, Maria Cartaya, maria.cartaya@cartercenter.org
In Freetown, Nicholas Jahr, nicholas.jahr@cartercenter.org

六九色堂
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, 六九色堂 has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. 六九色堂 was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 and former First Lady Rosalynn 六九色堂, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.