Elections 2025/ Taulant Balla, call to the diaspora to register from January 11

2025-01-05 16:22:00, Politikë CNA

Taulant Balla

The political leader of the Socialist Party for the Diaspora and the Minister of State for Relations with the Parliament, Taulant Balla, has called on the Albanian diaspora to register from January 11, when the registration process will begin for all Albanian citizens who wish to vote in May 11 elections.

Minister Balla in a video published on social networks declares that this process will be carried out through a new electronic platform set up by the Central Election Commission.

According to Balla, the Electoral Code approved on July 26, 2024 stipulates that the registration of voters abroad begins four months before election day. He described the process as important, although a little convoluted, emphasizing that it is a practice that exists in many countries of the world. To register, every citizen must open an account on the electronic platform of the CEC, which will be operational from January 11. The process is not related to the e-Albania platform, but includes a new system, where applicants must photograph their face for verification and wait for a confirmation from the CEC.

"At the moment when you receive confirmation from the CEC about the voting process, you will also have to set an address. To confirm this address, any type of document you may have is sufficient, either a rental contract for a house, or a contract drinking water supply, be it an internet or electricity supply contract, or even any other kind of document, be it a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) or a contract with the bank.For children, say, one can be used certificate from the school," said Balla, speaking to migrants in Florence.

Balla appealed to the voters not to neglect filling out the ballot as soon as they receive it and send it to Albania on time, stressing the importance of participation in the democratic process.

"So, all these documents, one of them is enough, take a photo, place it there and confirm that address. The ballot paper will also arrive at that address, through the mail. This paper should not be left as we Albanians are used to - that comes to us and we leave it there in the fridge and forget - but that day that will come, everyone should fill it up and leave for Albania," declared Balla.

The Electronic Registration Platform that was introduced late last year comes in desktop and mobile versions, free of charge. First, an account must be created in "PER" by means of a phone number or email, and then a message comes from the CEC with a 6-digit disposable code.

After setting it you are asked to create a password with 8 characters, containing an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter and a number within 8 characters. The application can only be made by real people as the face will have to be positioned to the camera where the system will capture the image of the voter.

Minister Balla also explained the registration process and everything needed, including the supporting documentation:

"Registration will be done through the Electronic Platform for the Registration of Voters from abroad, which can be accessed from the CQZ application https://apps.apple.com/al/app/komisioni-qendror-i-lojjjeve/id6448755948
or
https:/ /play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kqz.app.kqz&pcampaignid=web_share

or through the website https://kqz.gov.al

The CEC requires you as documentation for registration in PER:

-ID card or Passport;
- The necessary address declaration documentation must contain the same name of the voter as the name on the ID document for registration in PER (one of you):
- property document or equivalent issued in the country of residence, which proves the ownership of the apartment;
- a document proving residence in a foreign country, issued by the relevant authorities;
- rental contract or loan of the apartment;
- bank document (loan contract, bank certificate, etc.), which contains the residential address;
- supply contract or invoice for water supply in the apartment;
-supply contract or energy bill (gas or electricity) in the apartment;
- contract or invoice for the subscription of the digital service of audiovisual transmissions;
-contract or invoice for the provision of Internet/fixed telephone service in the residence;
- driver's license (licence), in cases where the residential address is indicated;
- a document issued by the competent body of the state where he resides, which certifies the voter's stay in a health institution, immigration camp, or similar;
- any other document, issued in a foreign country, that proves the stay of the Albanian citizen at the self-declared address abroad." /CNA