Voting
Your Voice is Your Power
Do you know why your vote matters?
Voting is one of the greatest powers citizens have in a democracy. It is through voting that we choose who will represent us, create laws, and lead the country.
When You Vote:
- You exercise your constitutional right
- You choose the direction of the country
- You make your voice heard
- You hold leaders accountable
- You participate in democracy
Your vote is your power!
If you don\
Right to Vote in the Haitian Constitution
Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution recognizes political and civil rights for all Haitians who are at least eighteen (18) years old — which includes the right to vote. In addition, Article 52-1 lists voting among the civic duties of every citizen.
This means:
- Voting is a RIGHT – no one can prevent you from voting
- Voting is also a DUTY – every citizen should participate
- You must be 18 or older
- You must enjoy your civil rights (not in prison, not banned by court)
Vòt se yon nan pi gwo pouvwa sitwayen yo genyen nan yon demokrasi. Se atravè vòt nou chwazi moun ki pral reprezante nou, kreye lwa yo, epi dirije peyi a.
Lè Ou Vote:
- Ou egzèse dwa konstitisyonèl ou
- Ou chwazi direksyon peyi a
- Ou fè vwa ou tande
- Ou mande lidè yo rann kont
- Ou patisipe nan demokrasi
Vòt ou se pouvwa ou!
Si ou pa vote, lòt moun pral pran desizyon pou ou.
Dwa Vòt nan Konstitisyon Ayiti
Atik 17 Konstitisyon 1987 la rekonèt dwa politik ak sivil pou tout Ayisyen ki gen omwen dizuit (18) lane — sa ki gen ladan dwa pou vote. Anplis, Atik 52-1 prezante vòt kòm youn nan devwa sivik chak sitwayen.
Sa vle di:
- Vòt se yon DWA – pèsonn pa ka anpeche ou vote
- Vòt se tou yon DEVWA – chak sitwayen ta dwe patisipe
- Ou dwe gen 18 lane oswa plis
- Ou dwe jwi dwa sivil ou (pa nan prizon, pa entèdi pa tribinal)
Check Your Understanding
According to the Constitution, voting is what?
Conditions to Vote
To vote in Haiti, you must:
- Be 18 or older
- Be a Haitian citizen (born Haitian or naturalized)
- Be registered on the electoral list (registered to vote)
- Have the Unique National Identification Card (CINU) — the only valid voting document (old CIN cards have not been valid since October 2020)
- Not be in prison for serious crime (loss of civil rights)
Who Cannot Vote?
- Children under 18
- Foreigners who are not Haitian citizens
- People who lost civil rights by court decision
- People convicted of certain serious crimes
How Do You Get on the Electoral List?
There is no separate registration at CEP offices. The voter roll comes directly from the civil registry of ONI (National Identification Office). Your CINU is what places you on the list.
What You Need to Do:
- Go to an ONI office to get your CINU — it is free
- Bring your birth certificate to prove your identity when applying for the CINU
- If you had an old CIN, replace it with the biometric CINU — a June 2020 decree invalidated the old cards as of October 16, 2020
NOTE: Passports, NIF cards, and driver licenses are not valid voting documents — only the CINU is.
Important: Make sure your information at ONI is accurate so you can vote at the correct polling center for your area.
Check Your Understanding
What is the minimum age to vote in Haiti?
In Haiti there are three main categories of elections:
Presidential Election
- Frequency: Every 5 years
- Term: 5 years
- Limit: Cannot serve two consecutive terms
- System: Two rounds if no candidate gets 50%+1
Legislative Elections
Senate:
- 30 Senators (3 per department)
- 6-year term
Chamber of Deputies:
- 119 Deputies
- 4-year term
Local Elections
- Municipal Council: Mayor, assistant, and council members
- KASEC/ASEC: Community section authorities
- Departmental Council: Department representatives
Before You Go Vote
- Verify you're registered on the electoral list
- Know where your polling center is
- Bring your CINU (Unique National Identification Card) — the only valid voting ID
- Inform yourself about candidates and their platforms
At the Polling Center
- Arrive early (centers open 6am, close 4pm)
- Find your polling station (look for your name on list)
- Present your CINU to the poll workers
- Receive your ballot
- Go to booth to choose in private
- Mark your ballot (check, mark X, or fold)
- Put ballot in ballot box
- Sign register to confirm you voted
After Voting
- They will mark your finger with ink (to show you already voted)
- You can stay to watch vote count if you want
- Follow results on radio, TV, or social media
Check Your Understanding
Why do they mark your finger with ink after you vote?
The Voting System
Absolute Majority (President)
- First Round: Candidate who gets 50%+1 wins directly
- Second Round: If no one gets 50%, top two candidates go to second round
- Win: In second round, candidate with most votes wins
Legislative: Absolute Majority Too
- Senate and Chamber of Deputies races use the same two-round system
- If no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round, the top two candidates go to a runoff
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)
CEP is the organization that manages elections in Haiti.
CEP Members:
- 9 total members
- Chosen by different sectors of society (religious, professional, education)
- In the permanent CEP provided by the Constitution: 9-year non-renewable terms, with one third of the members renewed every 3 years
- Provisional councils have no fixed term
- Independent (not controlled by government)
CEP Responsibilities:
- Organize all elections
- Register voters
- Register candidates
- Establish polling stations
- Count votes
- Publish results
- Resolve electoral disputes
Insecurity
Armed gangs control parts of the country, making it difficult for people to vote safely, open polling centers in dangerous areas, and observers to monitor elections.
Lack of Infrastructure
Many areas lack easy access for registration. Polling centers too far in rural areas. Lack of electoral materials (ballots, boxes, ink).
Political Crisis
Since 2020, no functioning Parliament. Elections postponed multiple times. Government without electoral mandate.
Lack of Funding
Organizing elections is expensive. In October 2025, CEP declared it impossible to hold elections before February 2026 due to lack of money.
Lack of Trust
People have no trust in CEP. Repeated accusations of electoral fraud. Low participation (around 20% vote).
Electoral fraud is illegal manipulation of elections. Here are examples:
Before Election
- Preventing registration: Stop people from registering
- Vote buying: Pay or threaten people to vote for a candidate
- Intimidation: Scare voters
Election Day
- Voting multiple times: Same person votes at multiple stations
- Voting in place of others: Use papers of dead or absent people
- Controlling polling stations: Gangs or political groups occupy stations
- Ballot stuffing: Put fraudulent ballots in box before or after voting
After Election
- Manipulating count: Change results during counting
- Destroying ballots: Throw away votes that don\
2026 Election Calendar
First round: August 30, 2026 · Runoff and municipal elections: December 6, 2026 · Registration: postponed in April 2026 — the CEP has not yet set new dates
These dates remain subject to security conditions and election financing.
Five Steps to Prepare:
1. Know Your Registration Status
- The registration period (planned for April 1 - June 29, 2026) was postponed in April 2026 after a dispute over the electoral decree and budget — the CEP has not yet published new dates; watch cephaiti.ht
- If you have your CINU, you can vote in the first round on August 30, 2026
- To get or replace your CINU, go to an ONI office
2. Inform Yourself
- Read candidate platforms
- Watch debates
- Research candidates (history, promises, past actions)
- Follow political news
3. Discuss with Others
- Talk with family, friends, neighbors
- Participate in community forums
- Listen to different viewpoints
4. Verify Your Registration
- A few weeks before election, confirm your name on list
- Know exactly where your polling center is
5. Plan for Election Day
- Prepare your documents the night before
- Plan your transportation
- Free time to go vote
Why Don\
Congratulations!
You've completed learning about Voting in Haiti!
"Your vote is your voice. Use it!"