The Provisional Electoral Council (French: Conseil Électoral Provisoire, French pronunciation: [kɔ̃sɛj əlɛktɔʁal pʁɔvizwaʁ], CEP; Haitian Creole: Konsèy Elektoral Pwovizwa) is the electoral commission of Haiti. The CEP is responsible for presidential elections and parliamentary elections, and is Haiti's main and only legal election agency.[1]
| Konsèy Elektoral Pwovizwa | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1987 |
| Jurisdiction | Constitution of Haiti |
| Headquarters | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Employees | At least 9 |
| Website | www.cephaiti.ht |
It was dissolved in September 2021 by acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry.[2] In September 2024, the Transitional Presidential Council reestablished the CEP in preparation for the next Haitian general election in 2026.[3]
Mandate
editAs the sole legal electoral body in Haiti, CEP's responsibilities include the following:[4]
- Ensuring confidence building among key actors involved in the electoral process;
- Establish the balance between the various political players in the race, hence the role of arbiter.
- Organize and supervise elections.
- Enforce the election legislation throughout the national territory.
- Ensure elections are held freely, credibly and transparently.
- Intervening in the mobilization and coordination of activities related to electoral information.
- Provide input in developing the legal framework for the electoral process.
Criticism
editMore than 30 presidential candidates reproached CEP for its obscure scrutiny policies and censured CEP for its lack of transparency.[5] According to Haitian Sentinel, CEP rejected transparency request by some presidential candidates including Jude Célestin, runoff candidate for the 2015 election.[6]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Mission". CEP Haiti (in French). Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Haiti polls postponed after electoral body is dissolved". BBC News. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Coto, Dánica (18 September 2024). "Haiti creates a provisional electoral council to prepare for the first elections since 2016". AP News. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Constitution" [Constitution] (in French). CEP Haiti. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Calls for transparency joined by 30 more presidential candidates". Haitian Sentinel. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ Maxime, Samuel (17 November 2015). "Electoral Council rejects transparency request". Haitian Sentinel. Miami. Retrieved 3 December 2015.