Press statement from NEC

Press statement from the National Electoral Commission...

"CLOSE OF POLLING DAY PRESS RELEASE - SUNDAY 18TH NOVEMBER, 2012 (PDF VERSION)

1. Close of polls
Polling officially closed at 5:00 PM in 98% of polling stations nationwide. However, voting went on in the remaining centers after the close of polls. Generally, polling was reported to be orderly and peaceful in almost all polling stations nationwide.

Eastern Region
Generally, all polling stations closed on time in the Kailahun, Kenema and Kono Districts with the exception of one centre in Ward 63 Kono New Sembehun City Council and in Nyandeyama Ward 31 in Kenema City. Polling subsequently closed successfully in these centers and counting of ballots immediately commenced.

Northern Region
Polling in the Northern Region was generally orderly and peaceful. Although, polling did not close on time in Ward 89 in Bombali District due to large voter turnout and other technical problems. Polling was disrupted by honey bees in Ward 135 in Kambia District. The polling station was automatically relocated and polling went on peacefully. In Ward 146 Koinadugu District, polling did not close on time due to the delay in generating the Final Voters Register through the use of Voters Identification Cards.

Southern Region
Reports indicate that polling in the Southern Region was also very peaceful and orderly. Polling closed in all polling stations except in one centre each in Ward 296 and 325 in Moyamba and Pujehun Districts respectively due to late commencement of the polls.

Western Region
Polling in the Western Region was reported to be peaceful except in Constituency 112 Ward 394 in Lumley, Freetown. Polling was also delayed in Ward 326 Mount Aureol, Freetown. This was due to unavailable registration details of some voters whose information were not on the Provisional Voters Register as these persons failed to show up at inquiry centers for inclusion of their names on the Final Voters Register.

Polling was also disrupted in Ward 392 at the Metropolitan Funeral Home center and Ward 394 at the Malama Comprehensive in the Western Urban District because of elections malpractices. Arrests have been made and these persons are helping the Sierra Leone Police in their investigations.

2. Reconciliation, Collation and Counting of Ballots
Reconciliation and counting of ballots commenced immediately after close of polls at polling station level. After counting of ballots, copies of relevant result forms were handed over to all political party agents and observers present for each election in all the polling stations.

3. Operations of District and Regional Tally Centers
Results in Tamper Evident Envelops from polling stations were collected by polling centre managers at centre level and handed over to the relevant ward coordinators for onward delivery to NEC officials at districts and regional tally centers. Tallying of elections results commenced immediately as elections results were received.

Elections results from polling stations in Kailahun, Kenema and Kono are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Kenema.
The elections results from polling stations in Bombali, Kambia, Koinadugu, Port Loko and Tonkolili are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Makeni.
Elections results from polling stations in Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba and Pujehun are being processed at the Regional Tally Center in Bo
The elections results from polling stations in the Western Area were received at the Regional Tally Center, Wellington at 3:40 AM on 18th November 2012. Imputing of data began immediately and is ongoing.

The Commission will like to record its appreciation to the National Elections Watch (NEW), all national and international observers who continue to accompany the process to its final phase.

The Commission appreciates the dissemination of provisional elections results through IRN and other media networks and solicits the continued patience of the general public while awaiting the announcement of the official results of the elections.

Signed:
Dr. Christiana Thorpe
Chief Electoral Commissioner/Chairperson
National Returning Officer