The Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has overturned a recent Central Election Commission (CEC) decision to expand the number of polling stations abroad for the 28 December early parliamentary elections, ruling that voting may take place only in Kosovo’s embassies and consulates. The decision, welcomed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and civil society representatives, reverses plans to open an additional ten polling locations in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
On 27 November, the CEC approved a list of 43 polling centers abroad, including regular diplomatic missions and ten new sites that would have significantly increased capacity—up to an estimated 40,850 registered voters.
However, the Kosovo Law Institute (KPI) argued that Law No. 08/L-228 does not permit the establishment of polling centers outside diplomatic and consular premises. LDK subsequently filed a complaint with ECAP, which ruled in its favor and amended the CEC decision, confirming that polling sites abroad must be located strictly within embassies, consulates or their premises.
Cakolli: A crucial correction that safeguards election integrity
The ruling was also welcomed by Eugen Cakolli of the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), who described it as more than a technical adjustment.
“This decision restores a clear legal standard, and if the case reaches the Supreme Court, it will likely be upheld, closing all dilemmas regarding voting outside Kosovo,” Cakolli wrote on Facebook.
He argued that the ruling prevents the creation of a “false narrative” portraying the diaspora as being prevented from voting.
“In reality, neither ECAP, nor the complainants, nor anyone else has ‘banned the diaspora’ from voting. Simply put, violating the law in the name of political narratives and electoral motives was not allowed, and a game that risked distorting the public debate about the diaspora has been neutralized,” he stated.
Cakolli also pointed to what he called an irony regarding the election date.
“Those who insisted that the elections be held on 28 December—arguing that ‘the diaspora will be here’—now claim that even diplomatic missions are not sufficient,” he said.
According to him, demands for additional polling centers—“mostly private spaces, restaurants or religious facilities”—serve political narratives rather than actual needs. He noted that in the 9 February regular parliamentary elections, almost none of the polling centers abroad reached their full registration capacity.
“For this reason, today is a good day for democracy and electoral integrity in Kosovo,” Cakolli argued, adding that even if claims continue that the diaspora has been ‘prevented’ from voting, the ECAP decision clearly demonstrates otherwise.
The diaspora, he stressed, “should not become a victim of divisive discourse,” but should vote in accordance with the law: “That is the most reliable way to ensure that every citizen’s vote abroad has full value and legitimacy.”
From 26 to 30 November, the CEC approved 14,600 applications for abroad voting via its electronic platform. Of these, 10,500 voters will vote by mail, 500 will send their ballots to the CEC’s postal address in Kosovo, and 3,500 registered for in-person voting at diplomatic missions.
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