NATIONAL NEWS
CAPITOL HILL – Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon has thrown his support behind a proposal in the House of Representatives seeking to mandate recorded voting by lawmakers on key national issues, describing the move as a major step toward transparency and accountability.
In a social media post, Senator Dillon said voting on the record would strengthen democratic governance by allowing citizens to clearly see how their elected officials decide on critical matters affecting the nation.
By: Lee Monjue – leemonjue@gmail.com
Contributing Writer
His comments follow a heated debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, triggered by Bong County Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah’s call for recorded voting.
The Bong lawmaker argued that such a system would enable the public and relevant institutions to easily track legislators’ positions on important national decisions.
Senator Dillon recalled that he raised a similar proposal in the Liberian Senate shortly after assuming office in August 2019, noting that the push for reform was challenging but ultimately necessary.
“It was a tough call to crack through, but with consistent demands and constructive disruptions on the floor, the Senate finally came along and started voting on the record in January 2022. This was a landmark reform breakthrough,” Dillon stated.
According to the Montserrado Senator, since the adoption of recorded voting, the Senate has consistently documented votes on all major issues, including the confirmation of public officials, the ratification of international agreements, and the passage of key legislation and resolutions.
“Since then, the Senate continues to vote on the record on all crucial matters. No more oral and mere ‘yea or nay’ votes on important issues. No one can hide from or deny their votes any longer,” he emphasized.
Senator Dillon has now urged members of the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead in the interest of openness and public trust.
“I am encouraging the House of Representatives to summon the courage to do the same in the spirit of transparency and accountability. There is nothing to hide,” he added.
The renewed debate over recorded voting comes amid growing public calls for greater openness within the Legislature, as citizens increasingly demand to know how their elected officials make decisions that shape the country’s future.
