CEC raises concerns over ballot delivery for diaspora voting
The State Election Commission (CEC) has reiterated concerns over the timelines set by the Electoral Code for sending ballots to Albanian voters abroad. While the process for diaspora voting, set to occur for the first time in the upcoming elections, is not deemed at risk, the Chief Commissioner insists that political parties and the Commission must work together to resolve these logistical challenges.
Why is this important: Under the current Electoral Code, candidate lists must be submitted 30 days before elections. Following this, there is a brief period for appeals, and an additional 2-3 days required for printing ballots. This means the ballots will be ready approximately 20 days before election day. However, postal companies have stated that they require up to 40 days to deliver ballots to registered diaspora addresses and return them to Albania for counting.
One proposed solution from experts was to allow diaspora voters to download their ballots from the CEC website and return them via mail. Yet, this would require amending the Electoral Code, which currently specifies that ballots must be physically mailed to voters’ declared addresses.
Context: No discussions have yet taken place between political parties on amending the Electoral Code to accommodate diaspora voting timelines. Meanwhile, debates between political parties and CEC remain centered on electronic voting and counting.
CEC has sought opinions from parliamentary parties about implementing electronic voting in the upcoming elections. While most parties, except the Democratic Party (DP), have requested its use in the Tirana district—home to approximately 40% of Albania’s population—DP opposes electronic voting entirely. The party cites alleged manipulation in two municipalities during the last elections, despite CEC assurances that electronic voting machines cannot be tampered with.
Next steps: The Chief Commissioner has pledged not to finalize the district for electronic voting without addressing the opposition’s concerns and providing evidence to counter their claims. If Tirana becomes the designated district for electronic voting, the process will require a budget of €18.2 million.
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