-Executive Director Anthony K. Sengbe Says 2023 Biometric Voter Registration Is a Foundation to “Lead” Tech-driven Reforms, Including Remote Candidate Registration and Online Observer Accreditation
BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County — The Secretariat of the National Elections Commission (NEC) says its draft Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap to consistently deliver credible, transparent and inclusive elections, building on lessons from the 2023 polls and the rollout of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR).
“The 2023 General Elections marked a critical milestone for Liberia, particularly with the successful introduction of Biometric Voter Registration—a clear demonstration of the Commission’s ability to innovate and adapt to new ideas,” NEC Executive Director and Head of Secretariat Anthony K. Sengbe said. “This achievement is not merely a milestone but a foundation upon which the Commission can continue to build a stronger future.”
Sengbe spoke Friday, October 24, 2025, in Buchanan at the close of a Visioning Workshop that shaped the draft plan for 2026–2030. The workshop—jointly funded by NEC and UNDP-Liberia under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP)—set clear, measurable goals and crafted the Commission’s mission, vision and core values for the next five years.
Positioning to lead technological change Citing rapid technological advances and a dynamic political environment, Sengbe said the NEC intends to move from reacting to change to shaping it. “We are not merely reacting to these changes; we are positioning ourselves to lead them—ensuring that our processes remain not only relevant but exemplary,” he stressed.
The draft plan, according to the Secretariat, centers on principles of inclusiveness, innovation, accountability, transparency and technology-driven operations. It envisions “an electoral commission where candidates can conveniently register from their homes, offices, or even abroad; and a digitalized Electoral Management Body (EMB) where both domestic and international observers, as well as party agents, can be accredited online to participate in the process.”
Call for collaboration and continuous improvement Sengbe urged the Board of Commissioners and Secretariat executives to sustain the collaborative spirit that produced the draft. “The Commission possesses the capacity for progress,” he said, adding that it is “high time to work collectively to sustain and build upon that excellence.”
He framed the plan as both operational and aspirational—aimed at strengthening systems while safeguarding democratic norms. The Secretariat, he noted, is rallying staff around “a spirit of collaboration, commitment to continuous improvement, and an unwavering belief that they are not only managing elections but safeguarding the future of Liberia’s democracy.”
Building on BVR and 2023 lessons NEC leadership has repeatedly cited the nationwide deployment of BVR in 2023 as proof the institution can deliver complex reforms under pressure. The Secretariat says the new plan will consolidate those gains through clearer service standards, tighter timelines and digital workflows designed to make core processes more accessible to voters, candidates, parties, observers and the media.
What’s in the draft
- A five-year strategic framework (2026–2030) with defined goals and a refreshed mission, vision and values
- A focus on inclusiveness, transparency and technology-enabled service delivery
- Proposed digital services such as remote candidate registration and online accreditation for observers and party agents
Next Steps
NEC officials did not announce a timeline for formal adoption, but said the draft produced in Buchanan would guide work over 2026–2030. The Commission indicated it will continue working with UNDP and partners under LESP as it refines priorities and operationalizes key reforms ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
“The work ahead is to sustain and build upon that excellence,” Sengbe said, casting the draft plan as a vehicle to translate institutional ambition into practical improvements voters can see and trust.
