The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (EC-SL) has declared May 23 as official start date for political parties’ campaigns for the June, 2023 presidential, parliamentary and local council elections.

“The campaigns will start on Tuesday, 23rd May and end on Thursday 22nd June 2023 at 6:00pm prompt” the EC-SL stated in a news release.

The Commission also announced that there are 3,630 polling centres and 11,832 polling stations nationwide for the June elections, adding that Voter Registration Cards will be distributed on Friday 17th to Sunday 26th March, 2023 in all 3,630 Issuance Centres Nationwide.

EC-SL say Nomination Fees for elected officials is in consonant with the Public Elections Act 2022, which states: “President = minimum wage x 12 months x. 5 years; ordinary member of parliament = minimum wage x 6 months; paramount chief member of parliament = minimum wage x 6 months; mayor/district chairman = minimum wage x 3 months; councillor = minimum wage and village head = half of minimum wage”.

Nomination dates for paramount chief member of parliament is on 30th March to 1st April 2023; presidential and ordinary members of parliament – 30th April to 9th May 2023 and local council – 19th to 28th April 2023 respectively.