By Rancy S. Teewia
As lawmakers return from their constituency break, Representative Thomas Romeo Quioh, a Member of the House Committee on Diaspora and Chairman of the Committee on Elections and Inaugurations of the 55th National Legislature, has outlined his position on dual citizenship and out-of-country voting rights for Liberians in the Diaspora.
In a statement titled “Dual Citizenship and Out-of-Country Voting, Strengthening the Bond Between Liberia and its Global Community,” on Sunday, October 11, 2026 ,Rep. Quioh said his position is grounded in national unity, democratic inclusion, constitutional governance, and collective responsibility to build a stronger Liberia.
Noting that Liberians living abroad remain an important part of the national community through their professional expertise, financial contributions, investments, philanthropy, and support for families and communities.
He added that the contributions of diaspora Liberians deserve recognition and their citizenship rights deserve serious consideration under the Constitution and laws.
On dual citizenship, Quioh recognized the significance of the 2022 amendment to the Aliens and Nationality Law, which allowed eligible Liberian citizens to acquire another nationality without automatically losing their Liberian citizenship.
He said the reform helped preserve the legal bond between Liberia and many citizens living abroad, and stressed the need to ensure the citizenship framework remains clear, fair, and consistent with the Constitution while addressing questions concerning public office, national security, and responsibilities of citizenship.
On out-of-country voting, the lawmaker said the Legislature should seriously examine how eligible Liberian citizens residing abroad can exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.
“The right to vote is a fundamental element of democratic citizenship. Where citizens retain their Liberian nationality and meet the applicable legal requirements, their geographical location should not, by itself, bring their legitimate democratic interests to an end,” Quioh stated.
He however noted a distinction between recognizing the principle and establishing a functioning electoral system. According to him, diaspora voting requires clear legislation, reliable voter registration, secure ballot procedures, transparent financing, and credible mechanisms for verification, counting, and resolving electoral disputes.
Quioh said the National Elections Commission (NEC) must be given the opportunity to present a comprehensive assessment of the legal, financial, and logistical requirements for implementing out-of-country voting.
He said the Legislature must consider both advantages and challenges, including broader democratic participation, stronger national unity, increased engagement by Liberians abroad, and opportunities to deepen diaspora involvement in national development, against concerns about implementation costs, electoral integrity, voter verification, constituency representation, and proper use of public resources.
“These challenges should not prevent us from examining reform. They should compel us to design a system that is transparent, practical, secure, and consistent with our Constitution,” he said.
As a Member of the House Committee on Diaspora, Quioh said the Committee’s responsibility is to provide a forum to address the questions objectively and constructively, through engagement with the NEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, constitutional experts, diaspora organizations, civil society, and citizens at home to develop recommendations supported by law and evidence.
“Our goal should be a framework that protects the integrity of Liberia’s elections while making democratic participation accessible to eligible citizens, wherever they reside,” he said.
Quioh added that national development requires the participation of the people, the responsible exercise of citizenship, and confidence in democratic institutions, stating that Liberia’s relationship with its citizens should not end at its geographical borders.