This Wednesday, the round table of ODIHR experts and political parties was held to discuss the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations for changes to the Electoral Code.
At this table, the Socialist Party, through experts, Eridian Salianji and Viktor Gumi, presented the draft with proposals for changes to the Electoral Code, which includes the depoliticization of election commissions and voting by mail for immigrants.
The two socialist experts proposed that the Voting Center Commission (VCC) should consist of three members, appointed by the CEC administration and selected from the body of commissioners who are ready and trained and certified in advance by the CEC. One of the members also serves as the secretary of the KVC. Meanwhile, the Commission of the Electoral Administration Zone (KZAZ) should consist of five members, selected by the CEC. The same scheme as with the monitors is also for the Vote Counting Groups which consist of two members, appointed by the CEC Commissioner from the body trained and certified in advance by the CEC and four political monitors, as above, who have not no decision-making rights.
Regarding the vote of immigrants, in the draft presented by the two experts, they proposed that Albanian citizens, who live outside the territory of the Republic of Albania, should vote by post and the envelope with the ballot paper must have arrived at the CEC no later than the day of voting.
For this, they will have to register their residential address abroad in accordance with law no. 14/2016 “On the identification and registration of the address of Albanian citizens living outside the territory of the Republic of Albania”.
While in the Electoral Code, the change is proposed by defining the time limit within which the CEC must approve the relevant by-laws for the voting of Albanian citizens residing abroad (eg no later than 6 months from the beginning of the 2025 election period) as well as the time when the CEC starts the registration procedure of citizens living abroad and who have expressed their will to vote in the parliamentary elections.
Among the proposals presented by the two socialist experts, is the increase in the transparency of political party funds and their control. SP proposes that in the Electoral Code, a specific deadline be set for the transfer of funds from the state budget to political parties, as well as to increase public funding for independent candidates.
A special place is occupied by the non-use of state resources. In the draft discussed today, it is known that the SP has proposed that the Electoral Code stipulate that any public activity to be promoted during the 30-day election campaign is prohibited, regardless of whether it was planned or not with funds from the state budget.
