Liberia's election: How it works

Following are key points in Liberia's presidential and legislative elections on Tuesday:

US model

Africa's first republic was founded by freed slaves from the United States and retains many similarities with the US political system, though there are significant variations.

Presidential and vice-presidential candidates run on a joint ticket for six-year terms.

Voters will also elect 73 seats to the House of Representatives (lower chamber), also for six years.

No race will be held for the Senate (upper house) this year.

Elections are overseen by the autonomous National Elections Commission (NEC).

Run-off 

Liberia operates a two-round voting system for presidential elections.

If no single candidate gets more than 50% of votes in the first round, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will face a run-off.

A run-off is highly likely this year as there are 20 candidates in a crowded field and the incumbent, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, cannot run having served the maximum two terms.

The House of Representatives use a first-past-the-post system, where the representative with the highest number of votes is elected. 

Timings 

Polling stations open at 8:00am and close at 6:00pm for Liberia's 2.1 million registered voters.

Observers 

The European Union, African Union and regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all deployed observer missions to ensure the elections are held in free and fair circumstances.

Disputed results caused violence in the last election in 2011 and this will be the first vote entirely overseen by Liberia's police and army, without the support of UN peacekeepers.

Results 

Official provisional results are expected within 48 hours, though the electoral commission has until October 25 to issue its final confirmation of the results and to announce a run-off if necessary for the presidency.