1 proposed amendments
1.1 residence requirement
1.2 supreme court tenure
1.3 date of elections
1.4 voting system
proposed amendments
residence requirement
article 52(c) of constitution requires presidential , vice-presidential candidates have been residents of liberia 10 years prior election. proposed amendment have shortened residency requirement 5 years, specify residency must held 5 continuous years prior election.
supreme court tenure
the terms of appointment judges in liberian judicial system defined article 72(b):
the chief justice , associate justices of supreme court , judges of subordinate courts of record shall retired @ age of seventy.
a proposed amendment have increased mandatory retirement age justices seventy-five.
date of elections
currently, article 83(a) of constitution states:
voting president, vice–president, members of senate , members of house of representatives shall conducted throughout republic on second tuesday in october of each election year.
the current date falls near end of rainy season in country, causes logistics difficulties holding elections. proposed amendment have altered date of national elections second tuesday of november.
additionally, municipal elections mayors, city councils, , paramount, clan , town chiefs have yet held since transition constitutional rule in 2005. in 2008, supreme court ruled long country not afford hold municipal elections, president appoint mayors in consultation local leaders. however, court ruled once financially able, national elections commission required hold elections municipal positions.
as constitution not specify date holding of these elections, proposed amendment have staggered these elections presidential elections, elections city mayors, city councils , chiefs held 3 years after each presidential election.
voting system
article 83(b) mandated two-round voting system presidential , legislative elections:
all elections of public officers shall determined absolute majority of votes cast. if no candidate obtains absolute majority in first ballot, second ballot shall conducted on second tuesday following. 2 candidates received greatest numbers of votes on first ballot shall designated participate in run-off election.
as cost-saving measure, article not enforced 2005 legislative elections, candidates elected plurality. amendment made arrangement permanent; subsequent elections use single-round first-past-the-post method legislative , municipal elections while maintaining two-round system presidential elections.
Comments
Post a Comment