In a recent letter dated August 30, 2023, addressed to Augustine Sorie-Senge Marrah, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has issued a response concerning the request for certified and verified district level results of the presidential, local, and parliamentary elections held on June 24, 2023.
The commission, in its response, emphasized its awareness of the legal provisions surrounding information access, as outlined in the Right to Access Information Act of 2013. It also highlighted its commitment to adhering to the stipulations of the Public Elections Act of 2022, which governs the conduct of public elections in the country.
The letter further emphasized that the Public Elections Act of 2022 takes precedence as the most recent legislation. The commission clarified that it adheres to the requirements of this Act, which include the compilation and certification of summaries of all polling station results by District Returning Officers. These summaries are made available to observers and counting agents, in accordance with the Act’s provisions.
Additionally, the commission revealed that it complies with the Right to Access Information Act of 2013 by publishing certified copies of these result summaries on its official website. This proactive approach aligns with Section 14 of the Right to Access Information Act, which exempts public institutions from fulfilling information requests if the information has already been published or is in the public domain.
The commission assured Mr. Marrah that the requested election results have been uploaded to its website and are accessible to the public. It also underscored its commitment to fulfilling its legal mandates as prescribed by the law.
In conclusion, the response was signed by William Addo Davies, the Executive Secretary of the commission, who expressed the highest esteem of the commission and thanked Mr. Marrah for his inquiry.
For more information and to access the certified election result summaries, interested parties are encouraged to visit the commission’s official website.
