The CEC requests additional funding for the 2027 elections. The Commissioner warns of risks to the readiness of systems and the administration of local elections.
The State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, has written a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight in the Assembly, Fatmir Xhafaj, requesting intervention to secure funds not covered in the 2027 draft budget.
The letter was provided by VNA.
In the letter dated today, November 9, 2026, Celibashi announces that of the additional request of 364,767,232 lek above the ceiling of the Medium-Term Budget Program, only 99,300,000 lek have been reflected in the budget draft law. The remaining part, 265,467,232 lek, remains uncovered.
The CEC requests that these needs be considered for funding, arguing that they are directly related to the preparation and administration of the 2027 local elections.
"For 2027, the CEC's main priority is the preparation and administration of local elections," the letter to Xhafaj states.
Missing funds, a risk for electoral systems
A significant portion of the unmet demand is related to technological infrastructure, systems maintenance, and license renewal.
The CEC is requesting an additional 51.7 million lek for these needs, warning that the lack of funding could have consequences for the functioning of electoral systems.
"Lack of funding could delay maintenance and testing of systems, increasing the risk of service disruptions and security breaches," warns Celibashi.
Another financial problem is related to the administration and storage of election materials. The CEC identifies 33,767,232 lekë uncovered for the rent of warehouses in Vaqarr, as well as a 180 million lekë difference for the warehouse project and supervision services.
According to the institution, failure to meet these needs could limit storage capacities and logistical readiness for next year's election process.
Party financing platform still dysfunctional
In the letter to Xhafaj, Celibashi also highlights the delays in improving the Electronic Financial Reporting Platform (PERF), which aims to guarantee more transparent and verifiable reporting of political finances.
The CEC acknowledges that the platform is not yet functional for submitting financial reports.
About 20 million lek are required for this project, while the institution is awaiting confirmation of funding from the Council of Europe Office in Tirana.
"We would appreciate that in the event of inability to obtain funding from the donor, this additional uncovered request be considered for coverage with budgetary funds," Celibashi writes.
The CEC argues that without financial support, the deployment of platform improvements could be delayed.
The 2027 elections and international recommendations
In the letter, Celibashi also lists the measures that the CEC intends to undertake before the local elections, including training the election administration, informing voters, and improving the accessibility of voting centers.
The institution emphasizes that it will continue to follow the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, as well as prepare analyses and technical proposals for electoral reform.
However, some of the envisaged measures are still in process. The CEC acknowledges that the standardized program for voter information and education is being drafted, while information campaigns and measuring the level of voter knowledge have not yet begun.
In conclusion, the State Election Commissioner requests that the financial needs of the institution be addressed through funds to be allocated for the 2027 elections, noting that the secure and transparent administration of the electoral process also depends on the necessary financial support.
