Haiti to Hold Presidential Elections in December After a Decade
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) of Haiti announced on Monday that the nation is set to conduct its first presidential election in ten years this coming December.
Since late President Jovenel Moïse’s victory in the November 2016 election, no elections have taken place. Moïse had postponed the parliamentary elections in 2019 and continued to govern by decree until his assassination in July 2021.
Following Moïse’s death, violent gangs have seized control over significant territories, particularly in Port-au-Prince, the capital. An upsurge in gang violence has hindered initial plans for elections this year, leading interim Prime Minister Alix Didier Fissueme to cancel the scheduled elections for August.
On Monday, the CEP published the 2026-2027 electoral calendar. The new presidential and parliamentary elections are slated for December 13, 2026, with a runoff set for February 21, 2027. Additionally, the plan includes a referendum on constitutional amendments and local elections.
The authorities have outlined that the registration for political parties, coalitions, and voters will occur from July to August. Reports suggest that over 300 political parties have been authorized to participate. Candidates must register between August 20 and October 2, while elections are set to occur from October 5 to December 12.
The announcement of electoral results is expected on March 7, 2027, for the presidential and parliamentary elections, and March 12 for local elections.
However, the CEP emphasized that adhering to this timeline hinges on establishing security and securing the necessary funding for the electoral process.
The statement from the CEP noted that organizing these elections requires collaboration among all involved parties, including governments and various national and international actors.
This new election timeline replaces a prior plan that called for elections on August 30, 2026, which has now been scrapped.
While the election calendar has been confirmed, details about security and funding from the Haitian government remain undisclosed as of now.
Concerns linger around municipalities dominated by armed groups that have restricted access to the CEP, raising questions about whether elections can take place in these areas.
A source from the CEP mentioned that there are two potential scenarios: reestablishing a basic security level for electoral teams to work or perhaps creating a centralized voting center for residents in gang-controlled areas, similar to the arrangements made during the 2005 elections.
Since Moïse’s assassination, Haiti has been managed by former interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was in office until 2024. Henry’s tenure ended with the establishment of a “transition council” under the auspices of the previous U.S. administration, which ultimately accomplished little in restoring stability before concluding its two-year term in February.
