Vision for Liberia Transformation

VOLT was certified by the National Elections Commission (NEC) in May 2016.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-certifies-22nd-political-party-ahead-of-2017-elections/|title=Liberia Certifies 22nd Political Party Ahead of 2017 Elections|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=8 May 2016|accessdate=20 November 2023}} Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe was the party's first presidential candidate. Whapoe is a social entrepreneur and a nephew of notable 20th-century Liberian politician Jackson Doe.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/jackson-doe-incarnate-slain-politician-s-nephew-eyes-presidency/|title=Jackson Doe Incarnate: Slain Politician's Nephew Eyes Presidency|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=12 October 2016|accessdate=20 November 2023}} Rodney Sieh of FrontPage Africa wrote that Whapoe "prioritized agriculture on the campaign trail".{{cite web|first=Rodney D.|last=Sieh|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-elections-runoff-lobbying-underway-weah-vp-look-to-build-alliances/|title=Liberia Elections: Runoff Lobbying Underway – Weah, VP Look to Build Alliances|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=16 October 2017|accessdate=20 November 2023}} On July 11, 2017, Whapoe announced that VOLT had selected former assistant agriculture minister Isaac Flowers of Bomi County as the party's running mate.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/presidential-contender-whapoe-picks-agriculturist-as-running-mate/|title=Presidential Contender Whapoe Picks Agriculturist As Running Mate|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=13 July 2017|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the 2017 presidential election, Whapoe received 3,946 votes, 0.3% of the total vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/peace_publications/election_reports/liberia2017-finalrpt.pdf|title=National Elections in Liberia, Fall 2017|publisher=Carter Center|date=2017|pages=47, 217|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the subsequent run-off election, Whapoe supported Unity Party (UP) candidate Joseph Boakai.{{cite web|first=Henry|last=Karmo|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/vp-boakai-seals-another-endorsement-ahead-of-december-26-vote/|title=Boakai Seals Another Endorsement Ahead of December 26 Vote|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=21 December 2017|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the 2017 House of Representatives election, VOLT ran 25 candidates. None won election.{{cite web|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2183_e.htm|title=LAST ELECTIONS|publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union|date=|accessdate=20 November 2023}}

On August 31, 2020, the NEC certified the Rainbow Alliance (RA). The political alliance initially contained VOLT, along with six other parties.{{cite web|url=https://necliberia.org/others.php?&e49c7921cb156014099756961908d03f94e3584c=MTExOA%3D%3D|title=NEC Certificates Rainbow Alliance to Participate in the Ongoing Elections |publisher=National Elections Commission|date=2020|accessdate=20 November 2023}} The RA planned to contest the 2023 presidential election.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-11-political-parties-form-rainbow-alliance-through-collaboration/|title=Liberia: 11 Political Parties Form 'Rainbow Alliance' through Collaboration|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=23 May 2020|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In 2020, the RA contested the Senate election. None of its candidates were elected.{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://necliberia.org/results/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121015413/https://necliberia.org/results/|title=2020 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Elections Commission (Liberia)|archive-date=21 January 2021|date=21 December 2020|accessdate=20 November 2023}} By March 2022, VOLT had withdrawn from the RA.{{cite web|first=Lincoln G.|last=Peters|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202203290234.html|title=Liberia: Rainbow Alliance Cracks, Dr. Whapoe Withdraws Membership|work=The New Dawn Liberia|publisher=AllAfrica|date=28 March 2022|accessdate=20 November 2023}}

Whapoe again contested the presidency with VOLT in the 2023 election. On July 6, Whapoe had announced that VOLT had selected Erasmus Daoda Fahnbulleh as his running mate. Fahnbulleh was the chairman of VOLT, as well as a former employee of the Ministry of Agriculture.{{cite web|first=Stephen G.|last=Fellajuah|url=https://analystliberiaonline.com/whapoe-picks-running-mate-says-liberia-lost-direction-under-weah/|title=Whapoe Picks Running Mate -Says Liberia Lost Direction under Weah|publisher=The Analyst Liberia|date=7 July 2023|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the 2023 election, in one precinct code, "GDM", the acronym for the Grassroots Development Movement, appeared on the ballot twice, once beside GDM candidate Edward W. Appleton's name, and once beside Whapoe's name, instead of the appropriate acronym "VOLT".{{cite web|first=Olivia|last=Banwon|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/whapoe-alleges-diversion-of-his-votes/|title=Yes, Grassroots Democratic Party (GDM) Is Recorded Twice on Presidential Record of the Count|work=Local Voices Liberia|date=15 October 2023|accessdate=20 November 2023}} After the election, Whapoe claimed that the NEC had intentionally printed the flawed ballots to divert votes from VOLT to the GDM.{{cite web|first=Lincoln G.|last=Peters|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/whapoe-alleges-diversion-of-his-votes/|title= Whapoe alleges diversion of his votes|work=The New Dawn Liberia|date=12 October 2023|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the subsequent run-off election, Whapoe again endorsed UP candidate Boakai.{{cite web|first=Lincoln G.|last=Peters|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/volt-endorses-boakai-koung-ticket/|title= VOLT endorses Boakai-Koung ticket|work=The New Dawn Liberia|date=13 November 2023|accessdate=20 November 2023}} In the 2023 legislative elections, VOLT ran 10 candidates in the House and 1 candidate in the Senate.{{cite web|url=https://www.necliberia.org/pg_img/Representative_Aspirant_Summary_Report.pdf|title=2023 Candidate Nomination House of Representative Aspirants Preliminary List|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=|accessdate=20 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.necliberia.org/pg_img/Senate_Aspirant_Summary_Report.pdf|title=2023 Candidate Nomination Senate Aspirants Preliminary List|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=|accessdate=20 November 2023}} Gbessie Sonii Feika was elected to the House in the Grand Cape Mount County #3 District.{{cite web|url=https://results.necliberia.org/county_30_13.php?&4df8f4a95b9ccaeffba51d2193fe766d30fe57c666ac68e0b618687f8a71b989=MTI%3D|title=2023 House of REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=2023|accessdate=20 November 2023}}

{{reflist}}

{{Liberian political parties}}

Category:Political parties in Liberia

Category:Political parties established in 2016

Category:2016 establishments in Liberia