Today—Saturday June 24, 2023– is polling day in Sierra Leone and voting has started , despite chaos and delays in some polling stations.
According to reports being received by COCORIOKO, Elections Commission of Sierra Leone ( ECSL) officials were late in bringing in voting materials, creating a lot of anxiety, especially in the Northwest. Party officials quickly mobilized and went around urging their members to remain patient and not go home in frustration, without voting.
There are also reports of people being arrested for elections malpractices like ballot stuffing as seen in the videos below.
In Pujehun, the opposition APC reported that its elections agents were withdrawn and evacuated from the polling stations due to threats to their lives and intimidation by SLPP supporters who vowed that the APC will not be allowed to vote in their strongholds .
Khadija Nabe
You can hear the pain and frustrations of citizens as they were deliberately deprived of their right to exercise their civic rights . *Another sad day for our democracy. We continue to ask for free fair, and credible opportunity to all . Let peace prevail and let the voices of citizens be heard!*
https://fb.watch/lmLLtyJ3JD/?mibextid=2Rb1fB
ECSL/Paopa allow our people to vote peacefully and credibly