As used in this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, an "association"
means a body of persons, corporate or other, which acts together for a common
purpose, and includes a group of people organized for any ethnic, social, cultural,
occupational or religious objectives; a "political party" shall be an association with
a membership of not less than five hundred qualified voters in each of at least six
counties, whose activities include canvassing for votes on any public issue or in
support of a candidate for elective public office; and an "independent candidate"
shall be a person seeking electoral post or office with or without his own
organization, acting independently of a political party.
Article 79
No association, by whatever name called, shall function as a political party, nor
shall any citizen be an independent candidate for election to public office, unless:
a. the association or independent candidate and his organization meet the
minimum registration requirements laid down by the Elections Commission and are
registered with it. Registration requirements shall include filing with the Elections
Commission a copy of the constitution of the association and guidelines of the
independent candidate and his organization, a detailed statement of the names
and addresses of the association and its officers or of the independent candidate
and the officers of his organization, and fulfillment of the provision of sub-sections
(b), (c), (d) and (e) hereof. Registration by the Elections Commission of any
association or independent candidate and his organization shall vest in the entity or
candidate and his organization so registered legal personality, with the capacity to
own property, real, personal or mixed, to sue and be sued and to hold accounts. A
denial of registration or failure by the Elections Commission to register any
applicant may be challenged by the applicant in the Supreme Court;
b. the membership of the association or the independent candidate’s organization
is open to every citizen of Liberia, irrespective of sex, religion or ethnic
background, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.
c. the headquarters of the association or independent candidate and his
organization is situated:
i. in the capital of the Republic where an association is involved or where an
independent candidate seeks election to the office of President or Vice- President;
ii. in the headquarters of the county where an independent candidate seeks
election as a Senator; and
iii. in the electoral center in the constituency where the candidate seeks election
as a member of the House of Representatives or to any other public office;