The 2022 Liberian by‑election was a set of constituency‑level elections held in Liberia in 2022 to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives that arose after the 2017 general election. The National Election Commission (NEC) scheduled the by‑elections for 20 July 2022, and voting took place in a number of counties across the country.
Background
Following the 2017 general election, several seats in the House of Representatives became vacant due to the death, resignation, or court‑annulled results of incumbent members. Liberia’s Constitution requires that such vacancies be filled by a by‑election within a reasonable period. In June 2022, the NEC announced the date, the constituencies to be contested, and the procedural timetable for the elections.
Seats contested
The by‑election covered eight single‑member constituencies spread across the following counties:
| County | Constituency (District) |
|---|---|
| Montserrado | District 15 |
| Nimba | District 8 |
| Grand Bassa | District 1 |
| Grand Cape Mount | District 2 |
| Margibi | District 2 |
| Bong | District 2 |
| Lofa | District 2 |
| Bomi | District 1 |
(Exact constituency numbers correspond to the official NEC list.)
Conduct of the election
The NEC deployed ballot boxes, voting materials, and security personnel to each polling station in the affected districts. The election was observed by domestic civil‑society groups, including the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo‑Information Services (LISGIS) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Observers reported that voting proceeded largely peacefully, although logistical challenges such as delayed delivery of ballot papers were noted in some remote areas.
Results
Preliminary results released by the NEC indicated that candidates from the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) won a majority of the contested seats. The opposition Liberty Party (LP) secured at least one seat, and independent candidates also achieved victories in two constituencies. Final certification of results was completed in early August 2022.
Aftermath
The newly elected representatives were sworn into the House of Representatives in September 2022, restoring full representation for the affected districts. The by‑elections were cited by the NEC as a test of Liberia’s electoral infrastructure ahead of the scheduled 2023 general election. No major post‑election disputes were reported, and the results were accepted by the major political parties.
References
- National Election Commission of Liberia press releases (June–August 2022)
- Local news outlets reporting on the July 20 2022 by‑elections (e.g., The Liberian Observer, FrontPage Africa)
Note: All information presented is based on publicly available reports from the Liberian National Election Commission and reputable news sources. No speculative or unverified details are included.
