LEGAL DEADLINE FOR THE POSTING OF THE VOTERS' LISTS

WAS NOT OBSERVED

The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) considers the issue of the posting of the preliminary voters' lists and the changes therein to be one of the most important aspects of the electoral process. In the framework of its mission, the AHC conducted a partial observation of the posting of the voters' lists. Based on the observations in Tirana, Korçë, Elbasan, Vlorë, Shkodër, Kukës, and Fier, it results that:

1. Until April 4, 2005, the preliminary voters lists do not appear to have been posted with the exception of the district of Fier and partially of Tirana.

2. The voters' lists have been posted in some polling stations, but they have not been posted at visible and accessible spots that would provide for their easy reading at any time by the voters.

Based on the above, the AHC finds that in this concrete case, item 2 of article 64/2 of the Electoral Code has been violated as it specifies that "The process of the preparation of the voters' lists for the elections for the Assembly of Albania in 2005 begins not later than March 15, 2005…" and that "the preliminary list is posted not later than March 31, 2005."

The Albanian Helsinki Committee is of the opinion that the above delay as well as any other related delay could lead to harmful consequences for the following reasons:

1              First, the delayed posting of the preliminary voters' lists shortens the period during which voters may acquaint themselves with these lists.

2              Second, besides that, the time before the deadline established in item 1 of article 56 of the Electoral Code is shortened as it says, "Within 30 days from the posting of the preliminary voters' lists, the head of the local government unit shall conduct the notification in writing of every voter…". This means that the heads of local government units cannot begin the notification in writing of voters, as the above provision requires,  until the posting of the preliminary voters' lists.

In such circumstances, the Albanian Helsinki Committee deems it necessary to appeal to the heads of all local government units to undertake immediate measures for the posting of the preliminary voters' lists and suggests to the Ministry of Local Government and Decentralization to exercise control in order to prohibit delays in this process.

Tirana, 5 April 2005