Haiti is set to hold its first elections in a decade in 2027 following repeated delays, as gang violence and political instability continue to worsen in one of the poorest countries in the world.
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that the first round of elections will take place on July 18, 2027, while the second round is scheduled for October 4, with final results expected between October 20 and 23.
The electoral commission stressed that the revised calendar would help the gang-plagued country ensure the “continuation of electoral operations” despite mounting concerns.
“The updated calendar aims to facilitate the continuation of electoral operations under conditions that allow the stakeholders concerned to fulfill their obligations in accordance with the provisions of the legal framework,” the CEP said in a statement, as quoted by the Haitian Times.
The revised dates came after the CEP announced that Haiti would delay its long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, which were initially scheduled for December 13, 2026, with a run-off set for February 21, 2027.
CEP extends candidate, voter registration
The CEP also announced that candidate registration would continue until February 9, 2027, while voter registration has been extended until May 20.
The move came as the council confirmed that more than 7,300 candidates had registered for various elected positions, including 19 candidates vying for the presidency, 369 for the Senate, 1,293 for the Chamber of Deputies, and 5,623 for local elections.
The extension is also expected to increase voter registration, with the CEP’s online platform showing that nearly 890,000 voters have been registered on the electoral roll.
Although this represents an increase from around 768,000 citizens registered as of early October, the figure still accounts for less than 10 per cent of the estimated eight million eligible voters nationwide.
Electoral challenges to persist
Nevertheless, electoral challenges are expected to persist despite the revised polling dates, particularly in gang-controlled municipalities.
Several municipalities under gang control reportedly lack voter registration centres, while individuals linked to these groups frequently block key roads connecting various parts of the country, according to Radio Press Internationale.
The United Press International also noted that criminal networks remain in control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as major parts of the country.
The situation has strained the government’s logistical capacity and resources needed to ensure public safety and a conducive environment at polling stations.
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Violence worsens despite efforts to curb gangs
Gang violence across the country has also continued to worsen, with reported crimes surging and thousands of Haitians displaced, according to the United Nations.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk revealed in early October that gang violence had led to the deaths or injuries of around 5,700 individuals, while more than 1,000 women and girls had been sexually abused.
Turk added that the UN mission in Haiti had reported about 230 kidnapping cases as of September 11, but warned that the actual figures were “likely much higher.”
This comes amid the deployment of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force to help local authorities combat armed gangs and restore order, underscoring the deteriorating security situation in Haiti.
Calls to avoid premature electoral timetable
In response to growing concerns, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, special representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, warned against setting unrealistic election timeframes.
He said authorities must thoroughly evaluate the security situation across the country before adjusting the voting calendar, stressing that any changes must be grounded in Haiti’s current conditions.
He also warned that premature polling schedules could undermine the credibility of electoral institutions amid worsening gang violence.
“The repeated announcement of electoral dates without a true assessment of their credibility, of their feasibility, only serves to weaken credibility with Haitians institutions,” he said, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.
Haitians face further electoral delays
These concerns loom over Haitians who have been waiting for years to cast their votes in a national election, with the country last holding polls in 2016, when Jovenel Moise was elected president.
Moise was assassinated in July 2021 amid efforts to seize political control, leaving the country under transitional authorities instead of an elected head of state.
Haiti is currently governed on an interim basis by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and has had no nationally elected officials serving in office since 2023.
It remains uncertain whether the elections will proceed as scheduled despite mounting security concerns or be postponed again, further prolonging Haiti’s political uncertainty.
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