More formal procedures for the hand over and verification of sensitive material should be introduced.

Consideration should be given to the feasibility of results being tallied in a parallel process at district level for the next general elections. Procedures for how the National Tally Centre process ballots from polling stations that indicate irregularities should be improved. This includes rules for quarantining and invalidating individual results.

The NEC should consider introducing a system for provisional (tendered) ballots to ensure the right to vote for registered voters whose names have already been marked on the voter list and to provide for the inclusion of voters whose names are not included on the final voter list.

Political parties should be provided with the means to improve the training of party agents to ensure that they are capable of fulfilling their oversight role and add to the transparency of the process.

The Public Order Act should be amended to replace the current system whereby parties need to seek approval from Paramount Chiefs to hold rallies. Such a role should be transferred to an independent body or the NEC who in conjunction with the police force should control and approve the campaign schedule.

The Constitutional Review Commission should consider options to increase the accountability of Members of Parliament to their electorate and to strengthen the role of women in the political process and public life.

The positions related with governmental functions incompatible with electoral offices should be clearly defined and reduced to a minimum in accordance with Comments 25 (16).

The feasibility of loosening the criteria to stand for election should be considered including whether the English language should remain the single language of Parliament and a requirement to stand for elections. Unreasonable requirements for education or a specific language to hold public offices are contrary to Comments.

Citizens deprived of liberty but not convicted should be able to exercise their right to vote as underlined in the Comments 25 (14).

The institutions responsible for setting the electoral calendar (the NEC and Presidential office) should ensure that elections fall within a season that does not pose extra logistical challenges such as the rainy season. Furthermore, in the absence of overlapping terms of office the practice of simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections should be considered.

The independence of the NEC should be increased by repealing their obligation to be represented by the Attorney General in legal matters.

A safe system for mobile voting for incapacitated voters like the physically disabled, elderly, sick, pregnant and hospitalised should be considered.

The judiciary needs to be strengthened to fulfil its tasks and enhance its credibility among all electoral stakeholders. Its independence, status and conditions for judges need to be improved to safeguard the judiciary against bribery or external influences.

The penalties for election related offences should be more clearly tailored to meet with the nature of the offence. Disqualification from voting and standing or holding office should be restricted to the most severe offences.

Legal amendments are required to provide that decisions in the Election Petition Courts should be appealed to the Supreme Court and not to the Court of Appeal as they are of a constitutional nature and the Supreme Court serves as the Sierra Leonean constitutional court.

The NEC should undertake a comprehensive public registration and verification exercise of the voter register prior to the 2008 local government elections to provide eligible voters with the opportunity to register.

In line with the electoral law the provisional voter register should be publicly displayed for voters to verify their names and scrutinise it for false entries and any possible errors.

Greater efforts should be invested in providing a comprehensive and timely voter education. Voter education activities should be conducted according to a clear schedule to ensure that all areas of the country are covered.

The capacity, independence and financial resources of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) should be increased to enable this agency to ensure that the provisions of the Code of Practice are fulfilled by the media sector in an independent manner.

The proposed reforms of the State owned broadcaster, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS) should be completed. Its management, mandate and activities should all be reviewed and a complete overhaul of this institution and its staffing implemented as soon as possible.

In line with the increasing trend in international law relating to libel and defamation as well as Article i, section 1 of the Code of Practice repealing laws that restrict freedom of information the offence of libel and related offences should be decriminalised and subsequently the IMC or civil courts should be made the appropriate mechanism for redress with the removal of all penal provisions in this area.

The feasibility of establishing a joint printing press, possibly owned by a foundation, that grants newspapers non-discriminatory access to printing facilities, should be considered to support and consolidate the newspaper industry.

Civil society in close collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the National Commission of Human Rights, should increase their efforts to enhance the participation of women in public life. In particular, a permanent, sustained and effective nationwide grassroots campaign targeting the participation of women as voters and as candidates should be undertaken.

The new Parliament should work further on domesticating all international and regional human rights instruments to which Sierra Leone is a signatory and most of which have also been ratified.

Coordinated international support should be directed towards strengthening civil society; particularly with respect to the importance these groups can play in civic and voter education efforts to enhance the awareness of citizens in their fundamental rights and democratic governance.