Frances Johnson-Morris describes her involvement in the 2005 Liberian general elections as the chairwoman of the National Election Commission (NEC).  She provides insight into the decision to overhaul and restructure the old Elections Commission and shares the challenges faced by the NEC in ensuring the credibility of the elections. Johnson-Morris details the problem of working in an election environment involving multiple international stakeholders. Describing the process of scheduling the elections, she also stresses the importance of establishing and adhering to a strict timeline. She further outlines how the credibility of the NEC was bolstered by its independence from the government and the transparency of the entire election process. Johnson-Morris goes on to describe the particular successes of the election, citing the overwhelming turnout of voters as an example.  She also discusses the recruitment of the election staff and comments on training, monitoring and payment strategies.  She further identifies the provision of adequate resources as crucial to the success of any election. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of election planning and the need for those involved in electoral decision making to ensure that both their character and actions remain above reproach. 

 

Case Study:  A Path to Peace: Liberia's First Post-War Elections, 2004-2005