DEPARTMENT OF OPERATIONS

Operations Department
The Department of Operations is responsible for developing the general electoral operational plan, as well as coordinating its implementation. It has four Regional Field Coordination Officers and fourteen District Offices. The department oversees the operational activities of the fourteen electoral districts in the country. 

District Electoral Offices
Each of the 14 District Electoral Offices is headed by a District Electoral Officer (DEO), who reports to the Director of Operations through the Regional Chief Field Coordination Officers. The DEO is assisted by an Assistant District Electoral Officer (ADEO). Other District staff include the Voter Education and Training Officer (VETO), an Office Assistant and a Driver.

 

Bye-elections: Parliamentary and Local Government

During the year under review, seven bye-elections (Parliamentary and Local Council) were held across the country.

 

Parliamentary bye-elections.

On the 28th May, 2011, Parliamentary bye-elections were conducted in Constituencies 4 in Kailahun district and 97 in the Western Urban district. (See Annex 3 for Parliamentary Bye-elections Results).

 

Local Council bye-elections.

The NEC conducted five Local Council bye-elections in Ward 7 Kailahun   District, Ward 143 Kambia District, Wards 204 and 227 Tonkolili District and Ward 297 Moyamba District. (See Annex 3 for the result summary statistics of the Local Council bye-elections). In ward 143 Kambia District, the nomination returned only one candidate, the election was therefore declared Uncontested.

 

Site Validation Test (SVT)

As a result of the introduction of the Biometric Technology in Voter Registration, the Commission conducted a two day Site Validation Test for BVR kits at the Trade Centre Kissy Dock Yard, Freetown and FAWE Primary School, Grafton. This test was conducted for two bidders (GEMALTO & FACE Technologies) in a bid to test the viability of the Biometric kits and selection of the most suitable vendor.  The outcome of the SVT assisted the UNDP procurement team in the selection of FACE Technologies as vendor for the BVR Kits.

 

Additional Voter Registration Centres ( VRCs )

The Commission in the year 2011 approved 10% addition of VRCs nation-wide. This has resulted in an increase in VRCs from 2,275 to 2998. A detail of increase of VRCs per district is indicated in Annexe 4

 

Pilot Test of BVR Kits

Following the selection of FACE Technologies as vendor for the BVR Kits, the NEC conducted pilot test of BVR kits in all 14 electoral districts 1st -3rd November, 2011 in order to determine the throughput per registrant, reliability of in-kit matching, generator fuel consumption rate and to identify logistical and operational requirements for the voter registration exercise in 2012, and to solicit public trust in the system.

 

 

Paramount Chieftaincy and other Elections.

With the introduction of the September, 2009 Chieftaincy Act (Act No. 10 of 2009) which allowed the Commission (NEC) to conduct Paramount Chieftaincy elections in Serra Leone, the NEC  conducted ten Paramount Chieftaincy elections  during the year under review. (See Annex 4 for the details).
NEC conducted other elections over the year in review:

• Youth Coalition District Executive Elections in Kenema, Moyamba and Western Urban Districts;
• Sierra Leone Ex- Service Men’s Association Elections (executive positions)