TIRANA, Dec 10 /ATA/ Electoral administration depoliticization and the need for professional electoral workers was at the centre of today’s conference that OSCE Presence organized together with the Central Election Commission, the Venice Commission and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Key stakeholders discussed challenges of electoral administration and emphasized the need for impartial and well–trained electoral workers. The conference highlighted the importance of professional electoral management bodies as a cornerstone of democratic elections.
Ambassador Tarran reiterated the OSCE Presence’s commitment to support Albania’s reform efforts. This includes providing expertise, capacity-building initiatives and advocating for merit-based appointments to enhance the professionalism of electoral administrators.
Among other things, he said, “A qualified and impartial electoral administration ensures that every vote is counted fairly and transparently. With the election date set for May 11, 2025, it is time to support the CEC for the upcoming elections through a professional administration.”
“According to the current legal framework, the process of appointing commissioners for the lower-level electoral administration is an exclusive right of political parties. Although this is one of many models applicable throughout the OSCE region, what is critical – especially in the absence of the recommended legal changes – is to prioritize merit, experience, and objectivity in their selection. We believe that competence, independence, and impartiality should guide this process to ensure that the electoral administration serves the public interest and not the political one. To achieve this, it is important that all staff involved in the electoral administration undergo a unified and comprehensive training and certification program provided by the Central Election Commission,” he said.
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