First Albanian voter registry extract reveals 3.7 million eligible voters
The Directorate of Civil Registry has released the preliminary extract of Albania’s voter registry for the May 11 parliamentary elections, listing 3,721,116 eligible voters, including Albanians residing abroad. For the first time, two separate voter lists will be used: one for residents within Albania and another for those voting from abroad.
Why is this important: The May 11 election marks the first time Albanians living abroad can vote from their countries of residence. To do so, diaspora voters must register on the platform created by the Central Election Commission (CEC). Once registered, they will be removed from the in-country voter list to avoid duplication. Eligible voters will have until March 9 to confirm whether they wish to vote within Albania or from abroad.
The process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency. However, the Interior Ministry has urged Albanians living abroad to renew their identification documents promptly to avoid disenfranchisement. According to Interior Minister Ervin Hoxhaj, measures are in place to allow diaspora citizens to apply for identification documents at Albanian consular offices.
Context: Notably, the list excludes 4,356 individuals aged 100 or older unless they express their intent to vote in person at civil registry offices. Incarcerated individuals eligible to vote are included in the list, with polling centers set to operate within prisons. However, individuals barred from voting under Albania’s decriminalization law remain excluded.
In preparation for the elections, the State Election Commissioner has reminded public institutions of their obligation to report public activities to the CEC starting January 11. This requirement aims to ensure compliance with electoral regulations and avoid misuse of public resources during the election period. Public institutions must submit reports through the Electronic Reporting Interface for Institutions (NRI), detailing any activity that may appear in the media or public platforms.
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