AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE

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Elections in Sierra Leone
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Ernest Bai Koroma (APC) [since 17 September 2007; elected 2007] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off). Note: A candidate must obtain at least 55% of the vote to avoid a second round.
House of Representatives [unicameral] (124 Seats) 112 members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (simple majority) system; 12 are Paramount Chiefs are indirectly elected to represent each provincial district; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1961-1967 Democracy
1967-1968 Military Regime
1968-1971 Emerging Democracy
1971-1978 Restricted Democratic Practice
1978-1991 One Party State (APC)
1991-1992 Multiparty Transition
1992-1996 Military Regime
1996-1997 Emerging Democracy
1997-1998 Military Regime
1998-2002 Emerging Democracy
2002-        Democracy
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 4, Civil Liberties - 3, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2012
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2012
Political Parties: APC - All People’s Party (far-left, socialist), CPP - Convention People's Party, CUPP - Citizens United for Peace and Progress, DCP - Democratic Centre Party, GAP - Grand Alliance Party, MOP - Movement for Progress, NADP - National Alliance Democratic Party, NCSL - National Council of Sierra Leone, NDA - National Democratic Alliance, NPP - National People’s Party, NUM - National Unity Movement, NUP - National Unity Party, PDP - People’s Democratic Party, PLP - Peace and Liberation Party, PMDC - People’s Movement for Democratic Change, PNC - People’s National Convention, PPP - People’s Progressive Party, RUFP - Revolutionary United Front Party, SDP - Social Democratic Party, SLIM - Sierra Leone Independence Movement, SLPIM - Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement, SLPP - Sierra Leone People’s Party, UNPP - United National People’s Party, UPP - United Progressive Party, YPP - Young People’s Party.
Coalitions: All People’s Congress-Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement (APC-SLPIM) [Contested 1962 House of Representatives Election]
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Multiparty: 1976, 1996, 2002, 2007
--Single Party: 1985
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1957, 1962, 1967, 1973, 1977, 1996, 2002, 2007
--Single Party: 1982, 1986
Constitutional Referendum: 1978, 1991
 
 
1957 Legislative Council Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (39)*

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

45.7%

24

United Progressive Party (UPP)

12.6%

05

National Council of Sierra Leone (NCSL)

1.8%

-

Sierra Leone Independence Movement (SLIM)

0.7%

-

Others

1.7%

-

Independents

37.5%

10

*39 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
May 1962 House of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition]

% of Votes

Number of Seats (62)*

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

34.7%

28

All People’s Congress-Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement [APC-SLPIM]

22.4%

20

 

All People’s Congress (APC)

(17.2%)

 

16

Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement (SLPIM)

(5.2%)

04

United Progressive Party (UPP)

0.3%

-

Independents

42.6%

14

*62 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
17 May 1967 House of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

647,581

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (66)*

All People’s Congress (APC)

286,585

44.25%

32

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

231,567

35.76%

28

Others

129,429

19.99%

06

*66 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
Note: Sierra Leone became a republic following changes to the country's constitution on 19 April 1971. Siaka Stevens of the All People's Congress (APC) was subsequently elected President by the House of Representatives and took office on 21 April 1971.
 
15 May 1973 House of Representatives Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (85)**

All People's Congress (APC)

84

Independents

01

*The main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) boycotted the election and an overwhelming majority of All People's Congress (APC) candidates ran unopposed.
**85 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
March 1976 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Siaka Stevens of the All People's Congress (APC) was re-elected unopposed.
 
06 May 1977 House of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (85)*

All People’s Congress (APC)

62

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

15

Undecided

08

*85 members were directly elected; 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs and additional 3 were presidential appointees.
 
12 June 1978 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Creation of a one-party, presidential republic

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

2,215,646

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

2,152,460

97.15%

"No" Votes

63,186

2.85%

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: All People’s Congress (APC)

01 May 1982 House of Representatives Election (104 Seats; 85 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs, and 7 presidential appointees)Presidential Election (Joseph S. Momoh elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

2,784,591

"Yes" Votes

2,780,495 (99.85%)

"No" Votes

       4,096 (00.15%)

30 May 1986 House of Representatives Election (127 Seats; 105 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs, and 10 presidential appointees)

 
23, 26, 28, & 30 August 1991 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Multiparty system, more powers for the legislature, division of powers

Registered Voters

2,500,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

1,875,000 (approx.)

Results

Number of Votes*

% of Votes*

"Yes" Votes

1,500,000

80.00%

"No" Votes

375,000

20.00%

*The total number of votes cast (and the percentage of "yes" and "no" votes) are approximate.
 
February/March 1996 Presidential Election
First Round (26-27 February 1996)

Registered Voters

1,600,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 60%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

   745,511

Second Round (15 March 1996)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

1,022,754

Candidate (Party)

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (SLPP)

266,893

35.80%

608,419

59.5%

John Karefa-Smart (UNPP)

168,666

22.62%

414,335

40.5%

Thaimu Bangura (PDP)

119,782

16.07%

-

-

John Karimu (NUP)

39,617

5.31%

-

-

Edward Turay (APC)

38,316

5.14%

-

-

Abu Aiah Koroma (DCP)

36,779

4.93%

-

-

Abass Bundu (PPP)

21,557

2.89%

-

-

Amadu Jalloh (NDA)

17,335

2.33%

-

-

Edward Kargbo (PNC)

15,798

2.12%

-

-

Desmond Luke (NUM)

7,918

1.06%

-

-

Andrew Lungay (SDP)

5,202

0.70%

-

-

Andrew Turay (NPP)

3,925

0.53%

-

-

Mohamed Sillah (NADP)

3,723

0.50%

-

-

 
26-27 February 1996 House of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

1,600,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 60%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (68)*

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

36.1%

27

United National People’s Party (UNPP)

21.6%

17

People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

15.3%

12

All People’s Congress (APC)

5.7%

05

National Unity Party (NUP)

5.3%

04

Democratic Centre Party (DCP)

4.8%

03

People's Progressive Party (PPP)

2.9%

-

National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

2.7%

-

People's National Convention (PNC)

2.5%

-

National Unity Movement (NUM)

1.2%

-

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

0.8%

-

National Alliance Democratic Party (NADP)

0.6%

-

National People's Party (NPP)

0.5%

-

*68 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
14 May 2002 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

2,342,547 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (SLPP)

1,373,146

70.1%

Ernest Bai Koroma (APC)

426,405

22.4%

Johnny Paul Koroma (PLP)

54,974

3.0%

Alimamy Pallo Bangura (RUFP)

33,084

1.7%

John Karefa-Smart (UNPP)

19,847

1.0%

Raymond Kamara (GAP)

11,181

0.6%

Zainab Hawa Bangura (MOP)

10,406

0.6%

Raymond Bamidele Thompson (CUPP)

9,028

0.4%

Andrew Duramani Turay (YPP)

3,859

0.2%

 
14 May 2002 House of Representatives Election

Registered Voters

2,342,547 

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (112)*

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

1,352,206

69.9%

83

All People’s Congress (APC)

409,022

19.8%

27

Peace and Liberation Party (PLP)

69,778

3.6%

02

Grand Alliance Party (GAP)

-

2.4%

-

Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP)

-

2.2%

-

United National People's Party (UNPP)

-

1.3%

-

People's Democratic Party (PDP)

-

1.0%

-

*112 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members were indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.
 
August/September 2007 Presidential Election
First Round (11 August 2007)*

Registered Voters

2,600,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,984,106 (75.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   144,898

Total Valid Votes

1,839,208

Second Round (08 September 2007)

Registered Voters

2,600,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,783,851 (68.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     43,793

Total Valid Votes

1,740,058

Candidate (Party)

First Round

Second Round

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Ernest Bai Koroma (APC)

815,523

44.34%

950,407

54.62%

Solomon Berewa (SLPP)

704,012

38.28%

789,651

45.38%

Charles Margai (PMDC)

255,499

13.89%

-

-

Andrew Turay (CPP)

28,610

1.56%

-

-

Amadu Jalloh (NDA)

17,748

0.96%

-

-

Kandeh Baba Conteh (PLP)

10,556

0.57%

-

-

Abdul Kady Karim (UNPP)

7,260

0.39%

-

-

 
11 August 2007 House of Representatives Election*

Registered Voters

2,600,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (112)*

All People’s Congress (APC)

59

Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)

43

People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC)

10

*112 members were directly elected; an additional 12 members are indirectly elected Paramount Chiefs.