CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – A coalition of Liberian diaspora organizations has formally petitioned the Liberian Senate to enact legislation granting Liberians living abroad the right to vote from overseas, marking a renewed push to expand political participation beyond the country’s borders.
The petition was presented on Thursday, January 15, 2026, to Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who received the document on behalf of the Liberian Senate. The petition was formally submitted by Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee, Chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), in collaboration with the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) and several global diaspora bodies.
According to the petitioners, more than 500,000 Liberians currently reside outside the country, many of whom were displaced by decades of political instability and the 14-year civil war. Despite retaining Liberian citizenship, the groups argue that diaspora Liberians remain effectively excluded from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
The petition calls on the Senate to pass a law that would allow Liberians abroad to vote at Liberian embassies or designated locations under the supervision of the National Elections Commission (NEC). The groups emphasize that such a measure would give practical effect to the constitutional principle that citizenship rights are not diminished by residence outside Liberia.
“We are not asking for a privilege; we are asking for the full enjoyment of a right,” the petition states, underscoring that diaspora Liberians continue to contribute significantly to Liberia’s economy through remittances, investments, and skills transfer.
The coalition behind the petition includes organizations spanning multiple regions, such as the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Liberians Advocacy for Change (LAFC), the United Liberian Association in Ghana (ULAG), and the Federation of Liberian Communities in Australia (FOLICA), reflecting broad international support for the initiative.
The petition also references the passage of Liberia’s Dual Citizenship Law, popularly known as “Once a Liberian, Always a Liberian,” arguing that voting rights must logically follow citizenship recognition.
Senator Dillon assured the delegation that the petition would be formally laid before the Senate in plenary and forwarded to the appropriate committee for consideration, setting the stage for legislative debate on one of the most consequential electoral reforms since the end of Liberia’s civil conflict.
The advocacy for out-of-country voting started in 2023 by then Chairman of the Board of Directors of ULAA, Chairman Emeritus and Executive Director of ULAA. His advocacy led to the successful passage of the Elections Law in the House of Representatives and Senate respectively but was vetoed by President Weah because of some provisions in the Elections Law that were unrelated to the Out-of-country voting rights.
If enacted, the proposed law would fundamentally reshape Liberia’s electoral landscape by integrating diaspora Liberians into national decision-making for the first time in the country’s history.
