The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Sierra Leone has called on the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to promptly release disaggregated results data at the polling station level. The mission emphasized that this move is crucial to ensure transparency and public scrutiny of the ongoing electoral process, particularly the tabulation of results for Parliamentary and Local Council Elections.
In its Preliminary Statement released on 26 June 2023, the EU-EOM expressed concerns over the lack of transparency during the reception of sensitive materials and the early stages of tabulation in regional tally centers, adding that the mission’s observers were unable to effectively witness the verification of result forms for the Presidential Election. Moreover, important information regarding the number and nature of corrections and cancellations of polling station results was not shared with party agents and citizen observers. The absence of disaggregated results data at the polling station level has compromised the transparency of the results management process.
Statistical inconsistencies have also been identified between the first and second batch of Presidential results published by the ECSL on 26 and 27 June, respectively. Notable discrepancies were observed in the average number of valid votes per polling station, with a decrease of 75% in Karene and an increase of 31% in Kono. Furthermore, the results revealed an unusually low percentage of invalid ballots nationwide at 0.4%, as well as exceptionally high voter turnout exceeding 95% in at least three districts and surpassing 90% in two other districts. Independent citizen observers have also noted similar statistical irregularities.
To alleviate tensions and address these concerns, the EU EOM has urged the ECSL to promptly publish disaggregated results data at the polling station level, including copies of result forms. This would allow for public scrutiny of the results and ensure transparency and accuracy in the electoral process.
The EU EOM has encouraged all stakeholders to resolve their grievances arising from the electoral process peacefully through dialogue and by utilizing the prescribed legal mechanisms. Since its arrival on 11 May, the mission has been closely monitoring the tabulation of results and post-election developments. In the coming months, the EU EOM will present its final report, including recommendations for enhancing the electoral framework in Sierra Leone.
The full statement of the European Union EOM reads below:
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Sierra Leone continues to observe the ongoing electoral process, including the ongoing tabulation of results for parliamentary and local council elections.
On 26 June the EU EOM released a Preliminary Statement, noting that reception of sensitive materials and early stages of tabulation in regional tally centres “were assessed by EU EOM observers as lacking transparency.” The EU EOM observers could not meaningfully observe verification of the result forms for the presidential election. Furthermore, the number and type of corrections and cancellations of polling station results was neither released nor shared with party agents and citizen observers. The lack of publication of disaggregated results data at the polling station level has compromised the transparency of the results management process.
The EU EOM notes there are statistical inconsistencies between the first and second batch of presidential results published by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) on 26 and 27 June, respectively. These include notable discrepancies in the number of average valid votes per polling station, ranging from a decrease of 75 per cent in Karene to an increase of 31 per cent in Kono. The results also show a particularly low number of invalid ballots of 0.4 per cent nationwide, as well as very high turnout in at least three districts exceeding 95 per cent, and in a further two districts exceeding 90 per cent. Statistical inconsistencies have also been noted by credible and impartial citizen observers.
To defuse tensions, the EU EOM calls on the ECSL to promptly publish disaggregated results data per polling station, including a copy of results forms, which would provide for a possibility of public scrutiny of results and ensure transparency and certainty.
The EU EOM encourages all stakeholders to address their grievances arising from the electoral process peacefully, through dialogue and by using the prescribed legal mechanisms. The mission has been present in Sierra Leone since 11 May and will continue to observe tabulation of results and post-election developments. The EU EOM will present and publish its final report, including recommendations for improving the electoral framework in the next few months
