CEP: Overview in View of the Referendum and Elections in Haiti
By Gesly Sinvilier · Port-au-Prince
· 3 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
While the political transition in Haiti is still finding its bearings, the country clings to the uncertain prospect of a return to constitutional order. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), fully constituted since December 2024, is striving to lay the groundwork for a credible electoral process. But in a context marked by widespread insecurity, population displacement, and the collapse of institutional trust, the anticipated political events – a constitutional referendum and general elections – are struggling to fit into a realistic timeline.
It has been eight months since the CEP was officially completed with the installation of its nine members from various sectors of national life. This formation, the result of a long negotiation process between the members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), has received a mixed reception. While some see it as a step towards the re-establishment of democratic institutions, others highlight the limitations of the designation process and the uncertainties surrounding the CEP's actual capacity to fulfill its mission in the current context.
Since its establishment, the CEP has undertaken several important steps: setting up technical units, discussions with international partners, mobilizing an electoral security system, recruiting staff for the BEDs and BECs, and consultations with political parties. Despite these efforts, the electoral body remains hampered by an unstable and difficult-to-control national environment.
*The Constitutional Referendum Postponed*
The CEP had initially set May 11, 2025, as the date for a referendum on the preliminary draft of a new Constitution. This text, developed following the National Conference, aimed to correct the shortcomings of the amended 1987 Constitution and propose an institutional framework better suited to Haitian realities.
However, in a statement released on April 25, 2025, the CEP officially acknowledged its inability to organize this vote, due in particular to:
– Persistent insecurity in several regions of the country;
– The inability of many displaced citizens to retrieve their identity documents or voter cards;
– The absence of minimal logistical conditions to guarantee the transparency of the process. This postponement, though justified, has contributed to increasing uncertainties surrounding the political transition's timeline. *General Elections Increasingly Postponed* In principle, general elections – presidential, legislative, municipal – should follow the referendum. However, at present, no official date has been set. The CPT had initially committed to organizing the elections before the end of 2025 or early 2026. But insecurity, the weakness of the administrative apparatus, the absence of an updated electoral register, and the scale of the humanitarian crisis make this scenario increasingly improbable. Both the international community (CARICOM, OAS, UN) and local actors agree that elections must be held under acceptable conditions of participation, transparency, and security. Currently, these conditions are not met. Several observers therefore believe that 2026 is now the most realistic target for an effective return to the polls. *Rebuilding Trust and Creating Favorable Conditions* The return to democratic order through elections does not solely depend on the presence of a functioning CEP. It requires:
– Progressive disarmament and control of areas occupied by armed gangs;
– A massive effort to re-register and document the displaced population;
– Strong political and institutional guarantees;
– Frank and inclusive dialogue among the nation's vital forces. Meanwhile, the CEP continues its preparations, hoping that the necessary conditions can be met in the medium term. The country, for its part, remains suspended between the urgency of rebuilding its institutions and the impossibility of doing so under fragile conditions. Gesly J. Sinvilier
– Persistent insecurity in several regions of the country;
– The inability of many displaced citizens to retrieve their identity documents or voter cards;
– The absence of minimal logistical conditions to guarantee the transparency of the process. This postponement, though justified, has contributed to increasing uncertainties surrounding the political transition's timeline. *General Elections Increasingly Postponed* In principle, general elections – presidential, legislative, municipal – should follow the referendum. However, at present, no official date has been set. The CPT had initially committed to organizing the elections before the end of 2025 or early 2026. But insecurity, the weakness of the administrative apparatus, the absence of an updated electoral register, and the scale of the humanitarian crisis make this scenario increasingly improbable. Both the international community (CARICOM, OAS, UN) and local actors agree that elections must be held under acceptable conditions of participation, transparency, and security. Currently, these conditions are not met. Several observers therefore believe that 2026 is now the most realistic target for an effective return to the polls. *Rebuilding Trust and Creating Favorable Conditions* The return to democratic order through elections does not solely depend on the presence of a functioning CEP. It requires:
– Progressive disarmament and control of areas occupied by armed gangs;
– A massive effort to re-register and document the displaced population;
– Strong political and institutional guarantees;
– Frank and inclusive dialogue among the nation's vital forces. Meanwhile, the CEP continues its preparations, hoping that the necessary conditions can be met in the medium term. The country, for its part, remains suspended between the urgency of rebuilding its institutions and the impossibility of doing so under fragile conditions. Gesly J. Sinvilier
