By Abass Jalloh
A slight majority of Sierra Leoneans trust the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL), while the least trusted are the Police and the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), according to a survey conducted by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) on elections management.
The survey named Sierra Poll and funded by Irish Aid was held between July and September this year, assessing the level of trust in election management bodies in readiness for the 2023 elections.
The Police and the PPRC were the least trusted of the four institutions, getting 44% and 43%, respectively.
16 elections for both parliamentary and local councils in all five regions of the country were held during the period, according to IGR, and that questions were centred on the performance of these elections management bodies on the application of coronavirus-related protocols, perceptions about the way bye-elections were managed and how communities view the outcomes of those bye-elections.
The report says respondents were asked about compliance with Covid-19 protocols ranging from mask-wearing to social distancing, and treatment of people with special needs, the aged, and pregnant women.
“The results show that in relation to mask-wearing and social distancing, just over half (53%) of the respondents felt that the Electoral Commission (EC) enforced these two protocols well,” the report reads in part.
“Similarly, just over half (52%) felt the EC did a good job in allowing pregnant women and the elderly to vote first. The provision of accommodation for PWDs received the lowest rating, with only 4 in 10 (41%) of respondents saying that this was done well,” it added.
The report further revealed that “the overall high levels of satisfaction with EMB performance in conducting elections is reflected in citizen satisfaction with the results of the most recent bye-elections in their communities. Over three in four (78%) of citizens believed that the results of the last bye-elections reflected the wishes of their communities. More men (85%) than women (71%) trusted the election outcome.”
However, there are regional variations, with higher levels of trust in electoral outcomes shown in ruling party-dominated regions. The report states: “Overwhelming majorities of citizens in the east (98%) and south (95%) said they trusted electoral outcomes, compared to 70% in the north-west and 72% in the north. The lowest percentages were recorded in the western area rural.”
The survey data was collected through in-person interviews at all bye-election wards and some other wards where these elections did not take place, according to the report.
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