: Voting rights were constitutionally limited to Americo-Liberians, a small minority of the population.
In 1927, Charles D. B. King , the 17th President of Liberia, secured a re-election victory that was so mathematically impossible it earned him a permanent spot in the Guinness World Records for the most fraudulent election in history. The Impossible Landslide
: The True Whig Party had held power since 1878, often using ceremonial elections to maintain its dominance. King , the 17th President of Liberia, secured
The blatant fraud of 1927 was not just a numerical anomaly; it led to international scrutiny that eventually cost King his presidency. After his defeat, Faulkner traveled to Geneva to file a complaint with the League of Nations. He accused the King administration of permitting slavery, slave trade, and forced labor within Liberia's borders.
: The ruling class often behaved as a superior group to the indigenous population, excluding them from the democratic process while simultaneously exploiting their labor. Scandal and Resignation After his defeat, Faulkner traveled to Geneva to
The glaring issue was that at the time, Liberia only had roughly . Statistically, this meant the voter turnout was in excess of 1,660%. A System of Exclusion
A subsequent League of Nations commission investigated these claims, particularly focusing on the government's role in sending forced laborers to the Spanish colony of Fernando Po. The findings were so damaging that the House of Representatives began impeachment procedures, leading King to resign in 1930. Liberia only had roughly . Statistically
The massive discrepancy was a symptom of deeper systemic issues in Liberia during that era: