Info

Albania

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	1. For purposes of elections to the Assembly, the territory of the Republic is divided into 100 single-member electoral zones. 2. The boundaries of the electoral zones may not be changed during the last six months of the mandate of the Assembly.
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 69.
Verified:	2009/07/05

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population b. Respecting natural barriers c. Compactness of constituencies f. Communities of interest/cultural concerns
Comments:	The division of electoral zones is made on the basis of the following criteria: 1. The number of the voters who have taken part in voting in each electoral unit in the most recent elections prior to the meeting of the Commission. No electoral zone is permitted to have greater or smaller deviation than 5 percent from the average number of the voters at a national level, except for cases required to implement section 7 of this article. The average number is calculated by dividing the total number of the voters who have participated in the elections by the number of electoral zones, of which there are 100. 2. The continuity of the electoral zone. No election zone is permitted to have discontinuity or intersection with other electoral zones. 3. The compactness of the electoral zone. No electoral zone is permitted to be interrupted by geographic barriers, or divisions which are due to demographic or historical development. 4. Economic links and common traditional interests. 5. Boundaries of regions. 6. Good communication possibilities within the electoral zone. 7. Indivisibility of the commune. When the number of the voters in a municipality is within the range of plus or minus 5 percent of the average number, this municipality should constitute an electoral zone.
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 3 and 73.
Verified:	2009/07/05

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber) c. Executive
Comments:	1. Electoral zone boundaries are established by a law of the Assembly in accordance with the recommendations of the Electoral Zone Boundary Commission. 2. An Electoral Zone Boundary Commission (the Commission) meets every five years, beginning on December 1, 2003, for the purpose of reviewing the electoral zone boundaries in accordance with the criteria set forth in this Code.
Source:	Election Code: art. 70.
Verified:	2009/07/05

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The President of the Republic is the Head of State, elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term. The election takes place by secret vote in the Assembly by a majority comprised of three-fifths of all its members. 1. A candidate for President is proposed to the Assembly by a group of not less than 20 of its members. A member is not permitted to take part in more than one proposing group. 2. The President of the Republic is elected by secret vote and without debate by the Assembly by a majority of three-fifths of all its members. 3. When this majority is not reached in the first voting, a second voting takes place within 7 days from the day of the first voting. 4. When this majority is not reached even in the second voting, a third voting takes place within 7 days. 5. When there is more than one candidate and none of them has received the required majority, within 7 days, a fourth voting takes place between the two candidates who have received the greatest number of votes. 6. If even in the fourth voting neither of the two candidates has received the required majority, a fifth one takes place. 7. If even in the fifth voting neither of the two candidates has received the required majority, the Assembly is dissolved and new general elections take place within 60 days. 8. The new Assembly elects the President pursuant to the procedure contemplated by paragraphs 1 to 7 of this article. If even the new Assembly does not elect the President, the Assembly is dissolved and new general elections take place within 60 days. 9. The subsequent Assembly elects the President of the Republic by a majority of all its members.
Source:	Constitution: art. 87.
Verified:	2008/05/09

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	The Prime Minister is appointed Head of Government by the President. At the same time, the Prime Minister and his government have to be approved by parliament (Assembly). The President of the Republic, at the beginning of a legislature, as well as when the position of Prime Minister remains vacant, appoints the Prime Minister on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly. At the same time, the Prime Minister and his government have to be approved by parliament (Assembly).
Source:	Constitution: art. 96.
Verified:	2008/05/09

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 87.
Verified:	2008/05/09

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 64.
Verified:	2008/05/09

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	e. Parallel (Segmented) (PR Lists and Majoritarian constituencies)
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 64.
Verified:	2008/05/09

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, LAW No. 9087 dated 19 June 2003 . Law "on the elections to local government organs", No. 7573 (6 June 1992).
Verified:	2006/11/23

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections d. Referendums
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 1.
Verified:	2009/09/01

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 3. Constitution: art. 45 International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified:	2009/09/01

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	b. EMB
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 29. Constitution: art. 153.
Verified:	2009/09/01

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Central Election Commission
Website Address: www.cec.org.al

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/10/29

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level d. Other kinds of elections (church, union, etc.) Please specify.
Comments:	d) Referenda.
Source:	Constitution: art. 153.
Verified:	2002/08/26

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:	The budget of the Central Election Commission constitutes a separate line in the state budget. The Central Election Commission accepts donations that serve the electoral process, without infringing on its independence and authority.
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 144.
Verified:	2008/05/09

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature g. Other
Comments:	By the High Control of State, bceause EMB uses money from state budget
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 144.
Verified:	2008/05/09

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	Consists of seven members. Two of them are elected by the Assembly, two by the President of the Republic and three by the High Court. Members are elected for seven years. There is a rotation in every third year.
Source:	Constitution: art. 154. Electoral Code: art. 21 et seq.
Verified:	2008/05/09

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations
Comments:	The CEC implements education programs for voters and training programs for election commission members. Article 138 of the Elections code provides for Free Air Time for the CEC. CEC is provided with a total of 60 minutes of free time on public radio and 60 minutes of free time on public television for voter education each calendar year.
Source:	Constitution: art. 153. Electoral Code. Law No. 8609 (8 May 2000).
Verified:	2009/09/02

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	a. Continuously
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 138. Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the Central Election Commission(CEC), icelibashi@kqz.org.al
Verified:	2009/09/02

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, conducted by the National Electoral Management Body i. Yes, conducted by Political Parties/ Candidates
Comments:
Source:	Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the Central Election Commission(CEC), icelibashi@kqz.org.al
Verified:	2002/08/30

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: art. 45.
Verified:	2002/08/26

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code: art. 9.
Verified:	2005/03/30

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments:	It is composed of the voter lists of all municipalities and communes. The National Registry of Voters is kept at the Central Election Commission and administered by it. So local authorities have also duties regarding this.
Source:	Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), icelibashi(a)kqz.org.al Electoral code: art. 50 et seq.
Verified:	2005/03/30

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), icelibashi(a)kqz.org.al
Verified:	2003/06/10

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections d. At specially designated polling stations
Comments:	1. When in a special institution there are at least 15 voters eligible to vote for the electoral unit where the institution is located, the ZEC or, as appropriate, LGEC, creates a voting center inside the institution for those persons. 2. In health institutions that have many wards, a separate voting center may be set up for each ward, if each of them has more than 15 voters. 3. Voters in military and police bases vote in the nearest ordinary voting center outside the base, as designated by the ZEC. 4. Students registered in the voter lists according to article 4 of this Code vote only in the polling unit where they have been added to the list.
Source:	Electoral Code, articles 94 et seq.
Verified:	2005/03/30

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, article 11.
Verified:	2005/03/30

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	g. No information available
Comments:	Voting outside the country voting is not permitted.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 11
Verified:	2005/03/30

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	Voting 1. On receipt of the ballot, the voter proceeds to the closed voting booth and votes by marking the ballot in the space provided for. 2. After voting in the closed voting booth, the voter folds the ballot so that his mark cannot be seen and leaves the voting booth. 3. The voter then deposits the ballot into the ballot box and leaves the voting center. 4. With the exception of article 103 of this Code, a voter votes only on his own behalf. Spoiled Ballots 1. If a ballot is marked outside the voting booth, the ballot is placed not in the ballot box but in the envelope for spoiled ballots. In this case, the voter is given another ballot and the incident is recorded in the official record. If the voter again marks the ballot outside the voting booth, the ballot is again placed in the envelope for spoiled ballots and the voter is not given another ballot. 2. If a voter marks or damages the ballot accidentally and requests a second ballot, the ballot is considered spoiled and is placed in the envelope for spoiled ballots and the voter is provided with a second ballot. This incident is recorded in the official record. A voter who damages the second ballot is not given another ballot paper. 3. Spoiled ballots are in no event placed in the ballot box. A Voter who Cannot Vote Himself 1. A voter who, for physical reasons, is unable to complete the voting procedures himself, may request the help of a family member or another voter who is on the list of voters for that polling unit. Both voters must be present in the voting center when this procedure is used. 2. A person may help only one voter who cannot vote himself. 3. Before marking the ballot, a person who assists another voter makes a declaration in the official record that he will vote as instructed, will not influence the voter’s decision, will not make public the vote and has not assisted any other voter. 4. Members of the election commissions may not help voters who are unable to vote themselves. 5. The mark on the ballot must be made in the closed voting booth. 6. The voters contemplated in section 1 of this article have the right to request of the LGEC their registration as voters who cannot vote themselves. The request for registration shall be accompanied by official documentation that proves the type and category of disability. The LGEC puts an indication beside the voter’s name on the voter list of the voting center. 7. When establishing the voting centers, the ZEC or the LGEC must take into consideration cases of obstacles for voters who cannot vote themselves. 8. In every case when there are voters registered according to section 6 of this article, who have difficulties accessing the environment of a voting center, the determination of the voting center and its organization are made in a manner that guarantees free access for this category of voters. 9. In voting centers where blind voters are registered, the VCC may be supplied with special voting devices, which allow the voters to read or understand the ballot paper and vote independently. The blind voter shall be informed by the VCC of the manner of voting with special voting devices and shall be supplied with them upon his request.
Source:	Electoral Code, articles 101 et seq.
Verified:	2005/03/30

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	f. Other
Comments:	1. Each political party that nominates candidates for deputy, candidates for mayor of a municipality or commune or for council members of a municipality or commune, in compliance with the procedures contemplated in this Code, is to be registered with the CEC as an electoral subject no later than 40 days prior to the day of elections. Political parties or coalitions whose member parties have obtained jointly more than 20% of the votes in the previous general elections, have the obligation to nominate candidates in all 100 electoral zones. 2. To register with the CEC, a political party shall submit: a) verification that the party is registered with the Tirana District Court; b) the name, surname and address of the chairman of the party, who is the person authorized to nominate candidates; c) the official name, initials and address of the party; ç) a copy of the party’s seal; d) the name and address of the financial officer of the party; e) the name and address of the person responsible for communication with the CEC.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 15.
Verified:	2005/03/30

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship f. Registration
Comments:	Every citizen who has reached the age of 18, even on the date of the elections, has the right to vote and to be elected.
Source:	Constitution, article 45. Article 13, electoal code
Verified:	2005/03/30

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, articles 45, 69, 86 and 87. Electoral Code, article 13.
Verified:	2005/03/30

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:	The parties receive financial aid to the extent defined in the state budget approved by the People's Assembly. At the time of foundation the parties receive material assistance from the state. The material assistance at the cost of 300.000 Lek (approximately 2000 USD) is granted immediately after the registration. The parties receive special aid for the electoral campaign, as well.
Source:	Electoral Code (parts 10 and 11). Law on political parties, chapter III.
Verified:	2005/03/30

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance b. Based on result of previous election c. Based on current legislative representation
Comments:	1. In addition to funds provided to political parties under Law no. 8580, dated 17.2.2000, “On Political Parties,” political parties that are registered with the CEC according to this Code are entitled to funds from the state budget for the conduct of elections. 2. The funds designated for the financing of the political parties participating in the election are set by the CEC within 30 days from their approval in the Assembly. The payments are made by the Ministry of Finance after official notification by the CEC about the manner of division of these funds. 3. The funds of the budget of the state for the financing of political parties in the elections are divided as follows: a) 10 per cent of the amount is distributed equally among the political parties registered as participants in the elections; b) 30 per cent of the amount is distributed in an equal manner among the parties that currently have deputies in the Assembly, or, as the case may be, members of the councils of the municipalities or communes; c) 60 per cent of the amount is distributed among them in proportion to the number of votes won on a national scale in the last elections for the Assembly or in local elections. 4. After the conclusion of the elections, parties that fail to win more than 2.5 per cent of the votes must return the amounts distributed in advance according to letters (b) and (c) of section 3 of this article. All funds distributed according to letters (b) and (c) of section 3 of this article are re-distributed after the conclusion of the elections among the parties that won more than 2.5 per cent of the votes, in accordance with the percentage of the votes won by each of them. The state budget shall envision financial aid for the political parties' activities. 15 percent of the state assistance shall be equally divided among those political parties which have taken part in the two last parliamentary elections with a number of candidates that pursuant to the electoral law is above the minimal required number to have a national list, 15 percent shall be divide among parliamentary parties, standing above the minimal proportional percentage, as provided in the electoral law, 70 percent of the state assistance shall be provided among all political parties that participated in the most recent parliamentary election, in proportion with the number of votes won in those elections.
Source:	Law on political parties, article 21. Electoral Code, article 146.
Verified:	2005/03/30

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The foundation of commercial or non commercial legal bodies, exercising profit-making activities, by political parties or their agents, is prohibited. Financial aid by foreign private entities is prohibited.
Source:	Law on political parties, chapter III. Ilirjan Celibashi, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), icelibashi(a)kqz.org.al
Verified:	2003/06/10

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	b. The polling centre
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Code, article 109.
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request f. Other
Comments:	1. No later than 24 hours after the declaration of the result in the electoral unit, the interested subjects have the right to request a recount of the votes for candidates for deputy or for mayor of a municipality or commune, if the margin between the votes of the candidate who came first and the candidate who came second is smaller than the total number of invalid ballots rejected during the counting of the ballots, or if the above margin is 150 votes or less. The request is submitted to the chairman, deputy chairman or the secretary of the LGEC or ZEC. 2. The ZEC or LGEC organizes and begins the recount of the votes no later than 24 hours from the declaration of the decision on the recount.
Source:	Electoral Code, article 111
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	c. Based on result of previous election
Comments:	The CEC allocates to the parliamentary parties that, in the last parliamentary elections, have obtained more than 20% of the seats in the parliament, equal airtime of not less than 30 minutes on Public Television and the same on Public Radio, whereas for the other parliamentary parties this airtime is not less than 15 minutes. The increase of the broadcasting time within a respective group increases proportionally the airtime at the disposal of the other group; Each party not represented in the Assembly participating in elections is entitled to 10 minutes of air time on Public Television and 10 minutes of air time on Public Radio.
Source:	Art 136 Electoral code
Verified:	2005/03/22

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	Art 140 electoral code
Verified:	2005/03/22

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	c. 4-5 days
Comments:	The results of electoral opinion polls may not be made public during the last 5 days before election day.
Source:	Art 134 electoral code
Verified:	2005/03/22

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Artt. 81, 150 et seq. Constitution Art. 118 et seq. LAW No. 9087 dated 19 June 2003 on THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA (Hereinafter Electoral Code)
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Artt. 81, 150 et seq Albanian Constitution, Art. 118 et seq. Electoral Code.
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Artt. 81, 150 et seq Albanian Constitution, Art. 118 et seq. Electoral Code.
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Artt. 81, 150 et seq Albanian Constitution, Art. 118 et seq. Electoral Code.
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Artt. 81, 150 et seq Albanian Constitution, Art. 118 et seq. Electoral Code.
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	No recall is possible.
Source:	Albanian Constitution, Electoral Code.
Verified:	2009/08/17

DD129

DD130

DD131