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Transcript/Script( PLAYBOOK SLUG: LIBERIA ELECTION POLLING (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Liberians Vote in Presidential, Legislative Elections
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 10/10/2023
BYLINE: Senanu Tord
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Monrovia, Liberia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Senanu Tord
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE(S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Liberians went to the polls Tuesday to choose their next president in addition to 73 legislators and 15 senators. Many showed up to exercise their franchise despite delays and procedural issues, as Senanu Tord reports from Monrovia.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: VOTING PROCESS, BANGURAH))
((NARRATOR))
Thousands of voters queue up at polling stations in Liberia’s capital to select a president, senators and legislators in the country’s fourth national elections since the end of the civil war in 2003.
Campaigning for the election has been marred by political violence, leaving many injured and at least two people dead. However, one observer says the initial processes on election day have been peaceful.
[[RADIO TRACK: Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah is the observer group leader for the G7+ organization of conflict-affected countries.]]
((Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah, G7+ Observer Group Leader)) (( English, 10 secs))
“Voting started here on time and we hope it will continue that way. We have been to four stations, and all of the places we have been, it's been very peaceful and the voters have been very orderly.”
((VIDEO-VOA: VOTING PROCESS, ZONDOE))
((NARRATOR))
But there were exceptions.
At the Monrovia Open Standard Church School polling center, tempers flared as voters argued with polling officers. The voters said a directive prohibiting the use of mobile phones in polling stations had not been communicated to them.
[[RADIO TRACK: Obediah Zondoe is a frustrated voter]]
((Obediah Zondoe, Voter)) ((English 15 secs))
“Sending text messages to people will not solve the problem because there are other people, other Liberians that cannot read. So why can you send text messages to people, why can't you do a publicity that other people who are not educated to learn that, yes, indeed you can't bring a phone there”
((VIDEO-VOA: VOTING PROCESS, TOH))
((NARRATOR))
At the FMCA School polling station in Monrovia, about a thousand people stood in long queues for more than six hours after voting commenced.
Despite the long wait, voters say they are eager to make their voices heard through the ballot.
((Albertah Toh, Voter))((English, 11 secs))
“I want to vote. I am feeling tired now, but I won't go home. I am going to vote because Liberia is all we have, and we need to vote to make the right decision.”
((VIDEO-VOA: VOTING PROCESS, BROWNE-LANSANAH))
((NARRATOR))
The electoral commission says it will make sure all voters cast their ballots, even if it means keeping polling centers open past closing time.
(( FOR RADIO: Davidetta Browne-Lansanah is chair of the electoral commission. ))
((Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, Electoral Commission Chairperson))((English, 15 secs))
“We will still run the process. They just need to ensure that they are in the queue before the official voting time ends, which is at 6 o’clock, and all those who are in the queue will get the chance to exercise their franchise.”
((VIDEO-VOA: VOTING PROCESS, BROWNE-LANSANAH))
((NARRATOR))
About 2.5 million Liberians were registered to vote in Tuesday’s elections.
Liberia’s National Elections Commission has urged voters to remain calm after voting and wait for official results to prevent disturbances.
((Senanu Tord, VOA News, Monrovia, Liberia ))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateOctober 10, 2023 17:55 EDT
Byline
Senanu Tord
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
