Sierra Leone election holds Today

The Sierra Leonean general election holds today as 13 candidates seek election to become the next president of the West African country. About 3.4 million Sierra Leoneans are eligible to vote in the general elections, out of an estimated 8.4 million people in different districts across the country.

Preparations Wrap Up

Sierra Leone electoral commission confirmed Friday it has done over 100 percent distributions of the electoral materials countrywide and that it was ready to conduct the much-awaited election in the West African country.

The election body confirmed all the voting materials including the ballot papers and boxes have been distributed countrywide.

The electoral body has reiterated the need to maintain peace during the entire process in one of West African most volatile countries.

The Candidates

President Julius Maada Bio, 59, of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is running for a second five-year term. His main rival among the 12 challengers is Dr Samura Kamara, 72, of the All People’s Congress (APC).

This is a repeat of the race in 2018, which saw Mr Bio narrowly win following a second round run-off. Their policies are what voters will look into before casting their votes on Saturday.

Process of the Election

The APC has also expressed concerns about the transparency of the counting process and has cast doubt on the electoral commission’s ability to hold fair elections.

The commission has defended itself, saying measures have been put in place to ensure the credibility of the voting and counting process.

Results should be known within 48 hours of polls closing.

To be declared the winner of the presidential race, the leading candidate must secure 55% of the votes cast, otherwise a run-off will be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

Key Concerns for Voters

As they go to the polls Saturday, multiple interviews with Sierra Leonean residents showed that economic issues are top of the minds of many voters. Around 52.4 per cent of registered voters, or 1.78 million people, are aged between 18 and 35 years old, according to the electoral commission. With high unemployment and inflation rates, young people are eager to vote and change the economic fortune of the country, said Musa Mansaray, a resident who sells phone appliances around Tower Hill in Freetown.