Albanian opposition Democrats demand diaspora Albanians be allowed to vote with foreign ID

The Democratic Party in Albania has announced it will condition its support for proposed electoral code changes, initiated by the Central Election Commission (CEC) and backed by the ruling Socialists, on the acceptance of their amendments. The Democrats are demanding that Albanian citizens living abroad, who do not possess any Albanian documents at all, but just biometric identification documents issued by the foreign countries where they live, be allowed to vote in the upcoming May 11 elections.

Why is this important: The issue of how to implement the voting rights for Albanians abroad has been a recurring point of contention. While the Democrats argue that the changes they propose would enfranchise a significant portion of the diaspora, the Socialists maintain that the CEC system requires voter data to match Albania’s civil registry, which excludes individuals lacking Albanian-issued identification. Democrats claim that this is a deliberate limitation aimed at reducing participation from Albanians living overseas.

Context: The Democrats claim the current system disenfranchises a significant portion of the Albanian diaspora, who may lack documents issued by Albania but hold valid biometric identification from their country of residence. According to the Democratic Party’s deputy leader, removing the legal barriers would “automatically create access for registration using foreign-issued identification documents.”

However, the Socialists have stood firm, arguing that the electoral system is designed to prevent inconsistencies by matching voter information with Albania’s civil registry. Without an Albanian-issued ID, citizens cannot register to vote on the CEC portal. Democrats have called this explanation an “alibi” to deny Albanians abroad their fundamental voting rights, pointing fingers at what they describe as government manipulation of the system.

Attempts at compromise: Despite disagreements, the Socialists have shown flexibility on another Democratic proposal. They have agreed to issue a normative act granting voting access to Albanians abroad who lack valid identification. This concession suggests potential middle ground, although the main issue of foreign-issued documents remains unresolved.

Broader context: The debate reflects the deeper political and administrative challenges Albania is facing as it prepares for diaspora voting. While efforts to improve voter access for Albanians living abroad have been on the table since previous electoral reforms, the Democrats argue that the government has failed to implement effective solutions. It remains to be seen whether the parties will eventually manage to come to a solution and what impact this impasse will have on the elections.