Ballots for Kosovo Diaspora Voting Arrive, Postal Process to Begin Wednesday

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kosovo has confirmed the arrival of more than 88,000 ballots intended for diaspora voters ahead of the country’s local elections. The postal voting process is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 17, allowing citizens living abroad to participate in electing mayors and municipal assemblies.

CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi told KosovaPress that the shipment includes 44,310 ballots for the mayoral elections and an equal number for municipal assembly contests. Each registered voter will receive a package containing two ballots one for mayors and one for assemblies along with instructions on how to return their votes.

“The ballots for voting outside Kosovo have already been printed and brought to Kosovo. The CEC will prepare individual packages for every registered voter and ensure they are dispatched by mail,” Elezi said. “It is the responsibility of each voter to send their completed ballots to one of the CEC mailboxes located abroad.”

The deadline for diaspora voting is 25 days, covering approximately 43,933 eligible voters who registered for the process. According to the commission, the list of mailbox addresses in various countries will be published soon.

The CEC clarified that citizens who register to vote from abroad are automatically removed from the in-country voters’ list, meaning they cannot cast a ballot at polling stations in Kosovo. Conversely, those who do not register for postal voting will remain on the domestic list and vote in person.

This move underscores the growing importance of Kosovo’s diaspora, which has historically played a significant role in national politics and economic development. By enabling overseas citizens to take part in local decision-making, authorities aim to strengthen ties between communities abroad and municipalities at home.