Diaspora's vote in question/ Problems in sending the ballot abroad

2024-10-18 14:25:00, Aktualitet CNA

The CEC has gathered today to discuss "On the adoption of rules for the registration of voters from abroad and the preparation of the list of voters".

During this meeting, it was decided to take into consideration the fact that postal service providers have stated that the delivery of ballot papers to the respective addresses of voters abroad can take up to 45 days.

But the problem is that, as previously announced by the CEC, the deadlines for the registration of electoral subjects and candidates, together with the time for the production of ballots, date about 10-12 days before the date of the elections. In any case not earlier than 30 days in advance.

While all operators, including the public one, estimate that it is impossible to send ballots abroad and return them to Albania in a shorter time than 30-45 days.

The practices of other countries where some of these operators are engaged in voting from abroad confirm the deadline for sending and returning ballots from abroad, in a time period of no less than 45 days.

Announcement of the CEC

Following the preparatory work that the Central Election Commission is doing in the context of enabling Voting from Abroad (VJV), on September 24, 2024, it held a consultative meeting at a technical level with the operators of the cross-border postal service. From the content of this meeting in order to implement the VJV process, I estimate that the following should be considered:

1. All cross-border postal service providers inform you that the time you need to send ballot papers from Albania to the respective addresses of voters abroad is 45 days. The shortest time, but which would still make the process difficult/uncertain, is 30 days. As you know, the deadlines for the registration of electoral subjects and candidates, along with the time for the production of ballot papers, date about 10-12 days before the election date. In any case not earlier than 30 days in advance. All operators, including the public one, estimate that it is impossible to send ballots abroad and return them to Albania in a shorter time than 30-45 days. The practices of other countries where some of these operators are engaged in voting from abroad confirm the deadline for sending and returning ballots from abroad, in a time period of no less than 45 days.

2. The alternative of sending the ballot from the voter to the CEC by ordinary mail should be categorically excluded, since the latter has no tracking of any kind. The registered shipment has a barcode (the international standard of electronic address stamping and unique barcode identifying the shipment) by means of which it can be tracked along the route. Even 'recommended' delivery, despite allowing tracking, has no priority as a delivery. This in terms of deadlines. Only shipments by express mail are considered priority.

3. If it is left to the voter's discretion to choose return mail, the option of regular mail should be ruled out, as shipments cannot be tracked and there are too many delays. It would be of interest, in order to maximize the participation and return of ballots, that as well as the sending, the return would be centralized with the same postal service company by the CEC./ CNA