Elections in Sierra Leone

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Elections in Sierra Leone are held on a national level to elect the president and the unicameral Parliament. Sierra Leone has a multi-party system, with two or three strong parties.

Both the president and the members of Parliament are elected for five-year terms. The Parliament has 124 members, 112 elected through plurality vote in single-member constituencies and 12 members elected by indirect vote.[1]

An independent Electoral Commission, composed of a chairman and four commissioners, is selected by the president, subject to the approval of Parliament. The commission is responsible for voter registration and elections and referendums. and the registration of both voters and political parties. There must also be an independent Political Parties Registration Commission, made up of four members chosen by the president.

Voters must be 18 years old and of sound mind. Voting is by secret ballot.

The last election was held on the 24th of June, 2023.

Latest elections[edit]

President[edit]

Incumbent president Julius Maada Bio was re-elected with 56% of the vote, a result which was contested by the main opposition party, the All People's Congress, which demanded a rerun, citing "glaring irregularities".[2]

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Julius Maada BioMohamed Juldeh JallohSierra Leone People's Party1,566,93256.17
Samura KamaraChernor Maju BahAll People's Congress1,148,26241.16
Mohamed BahMariatu Saudatu TurayNational Democratic Alliance21,6200.77
Charles MargaiTony Hindolo SongaPeople's Movement for Democratic Change16,0120.57
Nabieu KamaraSaidu MannahPeace and Liberation Party7,7170.28
Abdulahi SaccohAlice PyneRevolutionary United Front6,7960.24
Prince CokerIbrahim JallohPeople's Democratic Party5,9810.21
Iye KakayAmbrose KobiAlliance Democratic Party4,3360.16
Saa KabutaGabriel SamukaUnited National People's Party4,0590.15
Beresford WilliamsKadija BanguraRepublic National Independent Party2,6920.10
Mohamed JonjoKaday JohnsonCitizen's Democratic Party2,3670.08
Mohamed Sowa-TurayOlivette WalkerUnited Democratic Movement1,6650.06
Jonathan SandyKomba MbawaNational Unity and Reconciliation Party1,3690.05
Total2,789,808100.00
Valid votes2,789,80899.61
Invalid/blank votes10,8830.39
Total votes2,800,691100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,374,25883.00
Source: Candidates ECSL

Parliament[edit]

The Sierra Leone People's Party won 81 seats in Parliament while the All People's Congress won 54 seats. The Sierra Leone People's Party did much better in the Kono District than it did in the previous election, winning seven of ten seats in this election after winning none in the district in the last election. It also made gains in northern and western Sierra Leone.[3]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Sierra Leone People's Party1,578,25956.6881+32
All People's Congress1,113,88240.0054–14
National Grand Coalition18,1690.650–4
People's Movement for Democratic Change17,3900.6200
National Democratic Alliance3,8190.1400
Revolutionary United Front1,5020.0500
Peace and Liberation Party1,1310.0400
National Unity and Reconciliation Party1,0000.0400
Republic National Independent Party5600.0200
People's Democratic Party5160.0200
Independents48,4641.740−3
Paramount chiefs140
Total2,784,692100.00149+3
Valid votes2,784,69299.60
Invalid/blank votes11,1890.40
Total votes2,795,881100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,374,25882.86
Source: Sierra Loaded, Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sierra Leone Overview". Election Guide. IFES. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  2. ^ Fofana, Umaru (2023-07-01). "Sierra Leone's main opposition party demands rerun of general election". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  3. ^ Fofana, Umaru (1 July 2023). "Sierra Leone ruling party wins 60% of parliamentary seats in contested vote". Reuters.

External links[edit]