As the much-anticipated 2023 elections approach in Sierra Leone, it is crucial to grasp the step-by-step process by which the results will be counted, consolidated and ultimately declared. With the number of registered voters reaching 3,374,258, an increase of 195,595 from 2018, the democratic process is poised to unfold with great enthusiasm.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the process through which the results will be counted, consolidated, and announced:
Vote Counting at Polling Stations: At polling stations throughout the country, the counting of votes occurs using a combination of physical and electronic methods. Election officials manually count the votes. Following a meticulous five-stage process, the ballot papers go through screening, reunification, reconciliation, sorting, and finally, counting. Once the counting is concluded, the presiding officer at each polling station publicly announces the results for agents and observers to record.
Recording of Results: To ensure accuracy and efficiency, the results are documented in a reconciliation and result form (RRF). These provisional results from all polling stations are then transmitted to the respective district tallying centres, where electronic tallying takes place. Each region, under the guidance of a regional commissioner, announces the provisional results through traditional media platforms, providing a glimpse into the evolving electoral landscape.
Consolidation at the National Tallying Center (NTC): As anticipation reaches its zenith, the provisional results are further consolidated at the National Tallying Center (NTC). This central hub serves as the venue for the final tallying, laying the foundation for the declaration of the official results.
Announcement of Official Results: The responsibility of announcing the final results rests with the chief electoral commissioner. On a momentous occasion, the chief electoral commissioner addresses the nation through traditional mass media platforms, proclaiming the official results.
In the pursuit of victory in the presidential race, a candidate must secure a minimum of 55 per cent of the total votes cast. If this threshold is not achieved during the initial round of voting, a run-off election will be conducted. This process, which was introduced in the 2018 election, entails the two candidates with the highest number of votes competing head-to-head for the ultimate triumph.