Haiti Sets Presidential Election for December After Years of Delays

Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has officially scheduled the country’s first presidential election in nearly a decade, setting the first round for December 13 and a runoff vote for February 21, marking a significant step toward restoring democratic rule despite ongoing security challenges.

The electoral calendar, published on Monday, also includes legislative elections, voting on constitutional amendments, and the selection of local representatives. According to the CEP, final election results are expected to be announced on March 7, provided security conditions allow the process to move forward.

Haiti has not held national elections since 2016. The country’s political crisis deepened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Since then, transitional authorities have repeatedly delayed elections, citing widespread violence and instability caused by heavily armed gangs.

The latest schedule replaces an earlier plan that targeted an August vote with a December runoff. Election officials postponed that timeline due to worsening security concerns across the country.

The CEP emphasized that the election calendar depends on creating an “acceptable security climate” and securing sufficient funding to support electoral operations. Earlier this month, the council began registering voters, training election security personnel, and finalized a list of more than 300 political parties eligible to participate.

Despite these preparations, analysts remain cautious about whether the timeline can be maintained. Armed gangs continue to control much of Port-au-Prince, home to roughly a quarter of Haiti’s population, while expanding their influence into central and rural regions.

The gang coalition Viv Ansanm, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been accused of kidnappings, killings, sexual violence, arson, and trafficking activities. The deteriorating security situation has fueled mass displacement, with approximately 12% of Haiti’s population now living in temporary shelters or with host families.

CEP President Jacques Desrosiers previously told Reuters that election officials had assessed hundreds of polling locations, but worsening gang activity has since made access to many voting centers increasingly difficult, underscoring the significant obstacles facing Haiti’s long-awaited presidential election.