Lebanese Diaspora Delegation Demands Equal Voting Rights Ahead of 2026 Elections

A delegation representing 16 Lebanese diaspora organizations met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday to press for full and equal voting rights for non-resident citizens in the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.

The delegation strongly opposed the current electoral framework under Law 44/2017, which restricts expatriate voting to only six designated parliamentary seats. Instead, they demanded that all Lebanese citizens living abroad be granted the right to vote in their original electoral districts, as is the case for residents.

In a statement following the meeting, the group called on Lebanon’s Parliament to revise the law in its next legislative session to ensure constitutional equality and political inclusivity for all citizens, regardless of geographic location.

The delegation noted that their proposed amendments have already secured support from more than 60 members of parliament

The key proposals include:

• Extending the registration period for overseas voters from 50 days to six months

• Lowering the minimum number of registered voters per polling station from 200 to 100

• Unifying vote counting processes by treating resident and non-resident diplomatic missions as a single tally center

Additionally, the delegation urged the government to streamline the process for renewing passports and ID cards for expatriates, ensuring they remain eligible to participate in the elections.

The push reflects growing frustration within the diaspora community over limited political representation, despite their significant contributions to Lebanon’s economy and global influence