The National Elections Commission (NEC) is expected to submit a proposed budget of slightly more than US$72 million to the Government of Liberia by October 31, 2026, to finance the country’s 2029 General Elections.
NEC Chairperson Jonathan K. Weedor disclosed the planned submission on Wednesday, October 21, during the induction ceremony of the Commission’s newly appointed Executive Director, Atty. Joseph A. Yarsiah.
The proposed budget will cover three major components of the electoral process: pre-electoral activities, election operations, and post-electoral activities.
Chairperson Weedor emphasized that predictable and timely government funding would be critical to ensuring adequate preparations for the 2029 elections, including a proposed fresh biometric voter registration exercise scheduled for January to March 2028.
The planned biometric registration exercise would replace the approach of merely verifying and updating the 2023 Final Registration Roll, forming a key part of the Commission’s preparations for the next general elections.
Weedor also called on development partners to prioritize sustainable institutional development and investment in Liberian expertise rather than relying heavily on international consultants and recurring symposiums.
“Symposiums cannot become the recurrent activities of donor assistance. International consultancy cannot become the major focus of donor funding without due consideration of national expertise,” Weedor stressed.
He welcomed the Government of Liberia’s willingness to strengthen financial support for the 2029 elections, underscoring the importance of early financial commitments to the Commission’s planning and operational readiness.
