Liberia: National voting in presidential run-off

Voting is proving fast-paced in Liberia’s presidential run-off, meaning the queues at polling stations are not long here in the capital, Monrovia.

Voters are choosing between George Weah, who is trying to secure a second term in office, and former Vice-President Joseph Boakai.

Earlier in the morning there were long lines, but now people can walk in easily to cast their ballots.

A electoral official told media that more than 50% of expected voters at his polling station had voted within the first three hours of the polls opening.

Isaac Doe, a senior party official of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), told the media: “These elections have elevated our democratic credentials with Liberians smoothly exercising their democratic franchise.”

Jonathan Wehyee, a single-legged amputee who blamed overcrowding and disorder for not being unable to vote in the first round, said he was delighted to cast his ballot.

“Today was so good and peaceful. Today I was able to vote but the last time I was unable to because there was no space for most of the disabled people,” he told the BBC.

Around 2.4 million Liberians are voting in what is expected to be a tight contest.

The two candidates were separated by barely 7,000 votes in the first round last month.