Diaspora vote in 2025 elections will be fully integrated into final results, says head of CEC

Dec 19, 2024 - Albania is on track to allow its citizens abroad to vote in the 2025 parliamentary elections. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has nearly completed the legal preparations necessary for the process.

Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the CEC, highlighted the challenge of preparing the process within the limited time available. During the fourth annual meeting of the Diaspora Coordinating Council, he emphasized that coordination among all parties involved will be crucial for ensuring a smooth and trusted process.

“We’ve been working since late 2020 to make this possible. The vote will take place on May 11, 2025, and the results will be fully included in the final outcome,” Celibashi said.

The CEC is finalizing the legal steps and developing an electronic platform for voter registration from abroad. While the process remains complex, Celibashi underlined the importance of the preparation period, which spans six months.

“This will be the first time that diaspora members can vote in Albania’s parliamentary elections. If all parties collaborate, it can strengthen the election process. Without trust, however, the integrity of the process could be compromised,” he added.

The Albanian government will cover the postal costs for sending and returning ballots, a move intended to ease the participation of Albanians abroad.