654.538 eligible voters will have the chance to cast their ballot today to elect their new mayors in Albania’s local by-elections 2022.
10.134 will be voting for the first time, in the country’s local by-elections.
6 candidates will be elected as the new mayors for the municipalities of Durres, Shkoder, Rrogozhine, Vore, Diber and Lushnje and will be holding their mandate until the upcoming local elections next spring.
Durres – This is the biggest municipality participating in these by-elections, with a total of 262.019 eligible voters. The 3 candidates running for mayor in this municipality are Emirjana Sako from the Socialist Party (SP), Luan Hoti from the Democratic Party (DP) and Ardian Muka from Berisha’s House of Freedom coalition.
Shkoder – Ranked second after Durres per number of eligible voters, a total of 168.288 citizens will be able to cast their ballot today in Shkoder. The race for mayor will take place amongst candidates Majlinda Angoni (SP), Xhemal Bushati (DP) and Bardh Spahia from Berisha’s HOF coalition.
Lushnje – Third in line with 104.782 eligible voters, Lushnje’s municipality will be led by one of the following candidates: Eriselda Sefa (SP), Indrid Sefa (DP), Elton Bano (Berisha’s HOF coalition).
Diber – This municipality has a total of 56.780 eligible voters, who will be selecting one of the following candidates as their new mayor: Rahim Spahiu (SP), Luan Haka (DP), Premtim Kryemadhi (Berisha’s HOF coalition) or Dritan Torba (LRE).
Rrogozhina – This municipality has a total of 32.236 eligible voters who will choose amongst the following candidates: Edison Memolla (SP), Ferdinand Saraci (DP), Hekuran Xhani (Berisha’s HOF coalition).
Vora – The smallest municipality in these by-elections will be Vora with 30.433 eligible voters, who will choose amongst Blerim Shera (SP), Ymer Marku (DP) and Lulzim Vrana (Berisha’s HOF coalition).
The voting process in these 6 municipalities will be overseen by 13 Regional Commissions from the Electoral Administration.
23:33 – Shkodra has not started counting ballots, yet.
Election authorities report that the counting process in Shkodra has not started yet.
23:20 – Counting begins in Lushnje
After several delays, ballots are now being counted in Lushnje. Reportedly, the reason behind the delay were changes in the list of counting and observation staff.
20:52 – Socialist Party wins Vora, DPs candidate gets less than 700 ballots
The Socialist Party nominee Blerim Shera won the mayoral race in Vora.
19:20 – Voting closed in 6 municipalities
Voting is officially closed in 6 municipalities. According to CEC, voter turnout is recorded at 30.33%.
12:00 – Voter turnout so far is at 11.44%
So far, in the local by-elections, a total of 11.44% of citizens have exercised their right to vote.
For a live update click here.
A total of 654.538 citizens will have the right to vote in these local by-elections.
11:46 – 5 746 citizens have voted so far in Diber
5.746 citizens have voted so far in Diber’s local by-election, out of the total 56.780 eligible voters registered in this district.
11:34 – Sali Berisha calls for a massive turnout in these local by-elections
Head of the ‘House of Freedom’ coalition – and former DP leader – Sali Berisha, has called on citizens to come and exercise their right to vote.
“May God bless all of you and your freedom vote!” – wrote Berisha on a Facebook status.
11:33 – Yuri Kim in Durres
US ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim, has just arrived in Durres – the largest municipality that is participating in today’s local by-election.
11:00 – Voter turnout until 11:00 a.m.
So far, a total of 10.22% of eligible voters have cast their ballots in the local by-elections.
For an updated list click the following link.
A total of 654.538 citizens are registered to vote in these elections.
10:54 – Elton Bano casts his vote
Elton Bano – House of Freedom’s candidate for the municipality of Lushnje has just cast his ballot.
He called on citizens to vote “for the Lushnje they deserve”.
10:20 – Ardian Muka casts his vote
The candidate for mayor in Durres, from the House of Freedom coalition, has just cast his vote. He told journalists that it’s time for “politics to stop being silenced and for citizens, to makes their voices heard through their vote”.
10:15 – Luan Haka casts his vote
DP’s candidate in the municipality of Diber, Luan Haka, has just cast his vote. He said that Diber is currently suffering from a lack of infrastructure which has led to a widespread lack of access to ballot stations due to bad weather and heavy snowfall.
10:10 – Xhemal Bushati has cast his vote
DP’s candidate in Shkoder, Xhemal Bushati has exercised his right to vote in Shkoder and called on citizens to vote “for their future and love for the city of Shkoder”.
10:07 –Ferdinand Saraçi has voted
DP’s candidate in Rrogozhina Ferdinand Saraçi, has voted and invited citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote.
09:53 – Celibashi in a press conference
CEC head commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi has led a press conference this morning, during which he said that CEC is closely monitoring all voting centers.
In addition, he said that voting is continuing as usual in the majority of voting centers.
Celibashi also reported on a few issues with electronic devices in several ballot stations due to bad weather conditions.
He also confirmed the incidents in Durres and Diber but assured citizens that voting won’t be hampered.
09:46 – Incidents have been reported in 2 districts
Several incidents have been reported in Durres, where commissioners of the House of Freedom coalition are claiming that one of SP’s observers has noted something down on a voter’s cellphone. This has spurred debate but the process has continued normally.
In addition, an incident has also been reported in Durres, when a commissioner from Berisha’s HOF coalition has gotten into a physical altercation with DP’s commissioner.
09:29 – Emirjana Sako can’t vote in Durres
SP’s candidate in Durres can not vote in Durres due to issues with the electronic identification device.
09:21 –Eriselda Sefa casts her vote
SP’s candidate in the Municipality of Lushnje has just exercised her right to vote.
“Take a few minutes off your days this weekend and come out to cast your vote as any responsible citizens should” – said Sefa.
09:17 – Majlinda Angoni has just cast her vote
SP’s candidate, Majlinda Angoni has just cast her ballot in the Municipality of Shkoder. She called for a massive turnout and a peaceful and democratic process.
09:00 – 3.41% of citizens have voted until 09:00
CEC has announced that 3.41% of citizens have voted so far.
08:55 – 1,16% of citizens have voted
CEC officials have announced that until 08:00 this morning, a total of 6.115 citizens have voted out of the total 515.398, who are registered to vote.
Check out CEC interactive map by clicking the following link.
08:16 – 2 candidates won’t be allowed to vote.
SP’s candidate in Diber – Rahim Spahiu – won’t be allowed to vote in these local by-elections, due to the fact that he is registered to vote in Tirana. For this same reason, DP’s Indrit Sefa, won’t be able to vote in Lushnje.
08:13 – Snowfall causes issues in Diber
As a result of heavy snowfall, Diber has noticed several issues with electricity in the Administrative Division of Lure, Selishte, Zall Dardhe, Zall Ree, Sllove and Luzni.
07:59 – Luan Hoti votes in Durres
DP’s candidate in Durres has just cast his ballot, telling citizens that “I only have one message for the citizens of Durres. I invite them to come out as free people, and vote for their families, their children and the future of their city”.
07:47 – Citizens voting electronically for the first time
Citizens in Vore will be voting through an electronic system for the first time this year. Euronews Albania is following developments closely to see whether or not the new system will pose any difficulties.
07:36 – PM Rama calls on citizens to come out and vote
PM Edi Rama is calling on citizens to exercise their right to vote and reminding them that in Ukraine, citizens are dying in the name of democracy.
07:20 – Voting process delayed
Even though ballot stations are officially open, Euronews Albania’s journalists are reporting technical issues being observed in several voting centers causing delays of up to 20 minutes.
Edhe pse janë hapur qendrat e votimeve, gazetarët e Euronews Albania raportojnë se për shkaqe teknike, procesi i votimit është vonuar deri në 20 minuta pas hapjes së orarit zyrtar në të gjitha bashkitë.
07:00 – Ballot stations open doors in 6 municipalities
At 07:00 AM, ballot stations across the 6 municipalities holding their local elections today are now open.
