Introduction

Voting, fraud, and violence. These challenges have hindered achieving a genuinely free, fair, and peaceful election in Sierra Leone. The forthcoming June 24th, 2023, elections present an opportunity for positive change. As someone who has closely observed the electoral process, including the 2018 elections, I understand the importance of addressing these issues. In this article, I will provide valuable insights and recommendations to political parties on protecting their votes and promoting a peaceful election.

Find Patriotic Members as Polling Agents

To safeguard the integrity of your votes, recruiting patriotic members with smartphones and internet connections is crucial. Assign them as polling agents to ensure comprehensive coverage at every polling centre. Aim for 100% coverage for optimal representation, which translates to approximately 3,630 Polling Agents or Observers dedicated to your party. 

I recommend having a backup pool of 5,445 to 7,260 agents to account for unforeseen circumstances. These individuals should be peaceful, unwavering in their commitment to peaceful resolutions, and impervious to intimidation from any party or agent.

Empowering Agents for Effective Monitoring

Selected agents must exhibit self-sufficiency and immunity to bribery or deception. Their unwavering dedication to peaceful conduct, regardless of the conditions at the polling centre, is crucial. They must diligently monitor the polling and counting processes, promptly reporting any detected fraud or issues to ECSL staff, their central campaign office, the media, and other present observers. Gathering substantial evidence, such as photos, videos, and audio recordings, is vital to support potential legal actions.

Effective Vote Recording and Tallying

Political parties should consider employing modern technological tools to enhance vote recording and tallying accuracy and reliability. By recording the count of all votes for each participating political party from every polling centre and capturing a snapshot of the final RRF form posted outside the polling centre, parties can use Microsoft Excel or custom vote tallying apps to perform prompt and precise tallies. This approach significantly hinders attempts to steal votes.

Understanding the Final Tallying Process and Ensuring Accountability

In addition to safeguarding votes, political parties must familiarize themselves with the final tallying process conducted by the ECSL. Gain knowledge about the systems employed and the hiring process for seasonal staff responsible for 90% of the work, and explore the possibility of auditing the computer systems utilized. Where feasible, advocate for real-time independent third-party audits before the final results are announced.

Challenges and the Need for Auditing

Several challenges must be addressed to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Firstly, the possibility of cancelled votes requires political parties to recalculate their numbers when such occurrences arise. It is essential to recognize that human involvement is prevalent, with 1,000 Sierra Leonean citizens manually counting or entering vote counts into the ECSL system. This introduces the risk of human error and the potential for manipulation by corrupt individuals. Unfortunately, the absence of robust background checks and a lack of a criminal database make it challenging to ensure the trustworthiness of temporary staff hired for this purpose.

Furthermore, the integrity of computer systems utilized in the process is paramount. A system that records user activities without exception and securely stores these records is essential. Failure to do so would enable manipulation of final results without consequences, making it arduous to prove fraud in court without evidence.

To address these challenges, independent certified auditors, including Election Result Auditors and Certified Information Systems Auditors (CISA), should conduct thorough examinations and verifications of the election process. Their work guarantees the integrity, legitimacy, and accuracy of the electoral process, instilling confidence in the public regarding the outcome of the elections.

Peace is in Our Hands

Overall, the protection of votes and the assurance of a free, fair, and peaceful election lie in the hands of all stakeholders. I implore political parties to embrace these recommendations and take proactive steps to safeguard their votes. Remember, "I stand for peace, you stand for peace, and we stand for peace." Let this be our collective mantra throughout this crucial electoral period. By working together and maintaining a peaceful environment, we can ensure a better future for Sierra Leone. Thank you for reading. Remember this. "There can be no peace without understanding."