Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) estimates about 100 million dollars for the conduct of public elections and referendum in the next two years. This amount includes the general projected costs for boundary delimitation, voter registration, legal reforms, ICT development and series of other activities outlined in the NEC strategic plan for 2020 to 2024 electoral cycle. The total estimated cost for the this electoral cycle is $97,053,000.
The next local government elections are scheduled for June 2022 whilst the parliamentary and presidential elections will hold between June and July 2023. The NEC has already proposed there be amendments to the Public Elections Act of 2012. It also suggested the 1991 constitution (Act No.6 of 1991) be reviewed to reflect current political and electoral realities.
The NEC has indicated they are seriously concerned about the security of elections and the uncertainties that trammel the smooth and timely conduct of general elections. In view thereof, the Commission urges parliament to enact a law that would prescribe a fixed date for parliamentary and presidential elections and also provide for election management during pandemics and emergencies, including a framework to enfranchise the Sierra Leonean diaspora.
The NEC says that to effectively deliver on its constitutional mandate of conducting public elections and referenda consistent with the electoral laws and international best practices, they would need to have financial autonomy since government funding has always been inadequate, untimely and irregular. To this end, the Commission recommends that a National Elections Sustainability Trust Fund be established through an act of parliament.
