Electoral Process
Learn how elections should be organized in Haiti
What is the Electoral Process?
The electoral process is all the steps and procedures a country follows to organize free, fair, and transparent elections. It includes voter registration, electoral campaigns, voting day, vote counting, and publication of results.
Independence
Organized by institutions not controlled by government
Transparency
All steps clear and visible to public
Accessibility
All qualified citizens can participate
Integrity
Results truly reflect people's vote
Acceptance
All parties accept legal results
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)
Role and Responsibilities
CEP is the institution that manages all elections in Haiti. According to the 1987 Constitution, CEP is responsible for:
- Organizing all national and local elections
- Registering citizens on electoral lists
- Establishing polling centers and stations
- Counting votes and publishing results
CEP Composition
- 9 total members
- Chosen by different sectors
- Permanent CEP: 9-year non-renewable terms, with one-third of members renewed every 3 years (Art. 194)
- Provisional councils have no fixed term
- Must be independent
CEP Challenges
- Lack of real independence
- Limited resources
- Lack of public trust
- Gang insecurity
Knowledge Check 1
Which institution is responsible for organizing elections in Haiti?
Types of Elections in Haiti
Presidential Election
- Every 5 years
- Two rounds: 50%+1 to win direct
- Candidate must be 35 years minimum
- Must be native-born Haitian
Legislative Elections
- Senate: 30 senators, 6-year term
- Deputies: 119 deputies, 4-year term
- Candidate must be 25 years minimum
- Two rounds: absolute majority required (runoff if no majority in round one)
Local Elections
- Mayors and municipal councils
- ASEC/KASEC (rural communities)
- Departmental councils are elected indirectly (not by direct vote)
- 4-year term
The last elections in Haiti were held in 2016; there is no elected president, parliament, or local officials. The CPT was dissolved on February 7, 2026, and acting Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé is the sole executive under the 'National Pact'. The CEP's final calendar sets the first round of elections for August 30, 2026, with the runoff and municipal elections on December 6, 2026 — but the vote depends on security and financing.
Registration and Voting Process
Who Can Register?
To register to vote, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a Haitian citizen
- Not in prison for serious crime
- Have the biometric CINU (Carte d'Identification Nationale Unique) issued by ONI — the only valid voting credential
Citizens can obtain the CINU free of charge at ONI (Office National d'Identification) offices. The June 2020 decree invalidated the old CIN cards as of October 16, 2020, and the NIF is a tax number — not a voting credential. The voter roll is drawn from the ONI registry.
Election Day: How to Vote
1. Arrive with Documents
Bring your CINU card — the only valid voting credential. Centers open 6am, close 4pm.
2. Verify List
Poll workers (polling station members) verify your name on the electoral list. You receive your ballot.
3. Vote in Private
Go to booth to mark ballot privately. Fold ballot and put it in ballot box.
4. Ink on Finger
Your finger marked with ink to prevent voting twice. You sign register or put fingerprint.
Problems: Many Haitians don't have identity documents. Registration offices too far in rural areas. Gangs control some areas where people can't go register.
Knowledge Check 2
What is the minimum age to register to vote in Haiti?
Vote Counting and Observation
How Votes are Counted
At Polling Center
- Poll workers open the boxes in front of everyone (observers only watch)
- Count ballots one by one
- Write results on minutes
- Post results for public to see
Transmission and Publishing
- Send minutes to central CEP
- CEP collects results from all centers
- Publish provisional results
- Resolve complaints, publish final results
Who Observes?
National Observers
Haitian citizens, often civil society organizations monitoring process
International Observers
OAS missions, EU, Carter Center, verifying respect of regulations
Party Representatives
Each party can have representatives at polling centers to monitor
Problems: Slow counting, minutes disappear, differences between local count and CEP, delays in publishing results create suspicion.
Citizen Role and Necessary Reforms
Citizen Responsibilities
Before Elections
- Register to vote
- Inform yourself on candidates
- Participate in debates
Election Day
- Vote! It's your right and duty
- Arrive early with your documents
- Report irregularities
After Elections
- Follow vote counting
- Demand transparency
- Continue monitoring elected leaders
Necessary Reforms
Strengthen CEP Independence
- Change how members chosen
- Automatic funding
- Legal power to sanction
Modernize System
- Modern technology (electronic voting)
- Biometric digital database
- Rapid results transmission
Improve Accessibility
- More centers in rural areas
- Simplify registration
- Mobile services for isolated areas
Combat Fraud
- Tougher laws against vote buying
- Rapid sanctions for violations
- Protection for voters
For democracy to function, Haiti needs an independent CEP, transparent process, security to vote without fear, adequate funding, and political will to respect results.
Knowledge Check 3
What's most important for elections to function properly?
Democracy needs engaged citizens. Register. Vote. Monitor. Demand accountability. Elections are not just CEP's responsibility – they're all of ours. Your vote is your voice.
The Electoral Decree and the 2026 Calendar Status
The 2026 elections are being held under an electoral decree the government adopted on December 1, 2025, because there is no Parliament to pass an electoral law. In April 2026, the CEP submitted a revised version to align the decree with the National Pact. One provision in the revised version — requiring a political party to have at least 30,000 members to field candidates — sparked major debate in May 2026: supporters say it will strengthen party seriousness, critics say it risks excluding smaller organizations.
Where things stand today: August 30, 2026 remains the official target, but voter and candidate registration — planned for April-June 2026 — were postponed in April after the government rejected the CEP's budget and paused the process. The CEP approved 282 of 320 registered parties. There is no official candidate list yet. For the latest information, check the CEP's official site: cephaiti.ht.