The Democratic Party has voiced opposition to the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) proposal to implement electronic voting and counting in the Elbasan and Durrës districts for the 2025 elections.

Why is this important: Electronic voting has been piloted successfully in previous elections, offering quicker results and potentially reducing invalid votes. The Democratic Party’s resistance could hinder the adoption of technology aimed at improving Albania’s electoral process.

Electronic voting’s track record: Electronic voting was first piloted in the 2021 elections in a small unit of the capital. It was later used in the partial elections of 2022 and the local elections of 2023. Results were delivered just one hour after polls closed, demonstrating efficiency.

• Speedy results: Quick result announcements reduce uncertainty and the window for disputes.
• Reduced invalid votes: Electronic systems minimize human error in vote counting.

However, losing parties often contest results. Weeks after the final results were announced, the Democrats made unsubstantiated claims that the electronic process was manipulated.

Socialist Party advocates expansion: The Socialist Party is pushing for electronic voting to be extended beyond Elbasan and Durrës to include the Tirana region.

• Population concentration: Tirana has the highest population density, with 37 out of 140 parliamentary seats.
• Complex ballots: In the upcoming elections, two-thirds of the candidates will be listed by name on open multi-name lists, complicating paper ballots.

The Socialists argue that electronic voting would simplify the process for voters and reduce confusion.

Democratic Party’s concerns: The Democratic Party remains skeptical about the integrity of electronic voting.

• Distrust of process: They fear the electronic system could be manipulated, affecting election outcomes.
• Preference for traditional methods: The party seems to favor traditional voting despite potential complications.

Challenges and decisions ahead: Initially, discussions considered extending electronic voting to five regions. However, the CEC cited tight timelines and significant funding requirements.

• CEC’s proposal: Due to constraints, the CEC proposed Elbasan and Durrës as the most feasible regions for implementation.
• Final decision pending: After gathering input from political forces, the CEC will decide where electronic voting will occur in the 2025 elections.