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General National Elections Guidelines 2023

SECTION 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1: Summary of Guidelines

  1. Elections Date: Saturay, August 26, 2023

  2. Elections Time: 4pm to 6pm (Eastern Daylight Time)

  3. Declaration of Preliminary Results: Saturday, August 26, 2023

  4. Declaration of certified Results: Monday, September 4, 2023

  5. Elections Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

1.2: Positions

Consistent with Chapter X, Article 2 of the Constitution, the following positions shall be contested:

  1. National President

  2. National Vice President

  3. National General Secretary

  4. National Treasurer

1.3: Mode of Communication

  1. The Commission shall communicate all elections-related information through:

  2. The Association’s https://liberianassociation.ca and social media platforms (Facebook and WhatsApp)

  3. Member Organizations’ social media platforms (Facebook and WhatsApp)

  4. Direct Messaging (Mass Texting)

  5. All questions or concerns pertaining to the conduct of the elections shall be addressed to the Commission at lacelectionscommission2021@gmail.com

SECTION 2: QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

2.1: Candidates

Consistent with Chapter 11, Article 1; Chapter 12, Article 1; Chapter 13, Article 1; and Chapter 14 of the Constitution, a candidate, at the time of the submission of their application, shall:

  1. Be a Liberian or of a Liberian descendant and shall have attained the age of twenty-one years;

  2. Have obtained a minimum education of a high school diploma;

  3. Be a registered member in good standing with a Chartered Member; and,

  4. No Candidate shall provide logistical, monetary, goods, or services to any delegate for votes. Evidence of violation of this paragraph (two-point-one-point-four) shall constitute absolute grounds for disqualification.

2.2: Application Procedures

Candidate application opens effective June 17, 2023.

Candidates shall:

  1. Submit a letter of application to lacelectionscommision2021@gmail.com no later than July 8, 2022;

  2. Pay application fees to the Association’s National Treasurer or through the Association’s Central Account and obtain an official receipt; and

  3. Submit a police certificate of a criminal background check; and

  4. Obtain and submit a clearance letter from the applicant’s Chartered Member and two reference letters from credible members of the applicant’s community. The “credible members” should not include the applicant’s relatives.

  5. Paragraphs two-point-two-point-two (2.2.2) to two-point-two-point-five (2.2.5) shall constitute the application package to the Commission.

2.3: Application Fees

  1. National President $600.00

  2. National Vice President $500.00

  3. National General Secretary $300.00

  4. National Treasurer $300.00

2.4: Voter Roster

  1. Whereas, in keeping with the constitution, eligible voters shall include accredited delegates representing Chartered Members; and

  2. Whereas, all Board Members, Regional Vice Presidents and current elected officials of the Association in good standing shall also be eligible to vote in their capacity as automatic delegates.

  3. Now, therefore, consistent with Chapter 18, Article 1 of the Constitution, the following shall be the makeup of the voter roster for the General Elections 2023:

    i. Five delegates from each Chartered Member;

    ii. Two Board members from each Chartered Member; and

    iii. National Elected Officers: Regional Vice Presidents and National

    Executive Officers.

2.5: Elections Observers

  1. Each Chartered Member shall appoint two observers to the election.

  2. The Elections Commission shall invite observers from external organizations.

2.6: Timeline

2023 Convention & National Election

MANDATE

1. Whereas, the Constitution of the Liberian Association of Canada (LAC) – hereafter referred to as the Constitution – mandates that a free, fair, and transparent election be conducted every two years for the National Executive Leadership of LAC, hereafter referred to as the Association;

2. Whereas, the Constitution mandates that the National Elections Commission, hereafter referred to as the Commission, shall be responsible for organizing and conducting the election of the Executive Leadership; and

3. Whereas, consistent with Chapter 17, Article 2 of the Constitution, the laws, requirements, and eligibility criteria outlined in this document shall be the official and only regulations and guidelines to govern the conduct of the 2023 National Election, UNLESS OTHERWISE DECIDED BY THE ASSEMBLY.

4. Now, therefore, by its mandate, the Commission herein affirms June 17, 2023, as the official commencement of the 2023 National Election.