Haiti Pushes Ahead With Elections Despite Gang Violence
Last update: August 6, 2026
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Can Haiti pull off its first national election in almost a decade while gangs still control much of the capital?
Haiti is pushing forward with its long-delayed elections, even as gang violence continues to grip large parts of the country.
According to a report by cbinews.tv, the government has expanded its voter registration drive into its second week, insisting that the electoral process must go on.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says the state is fully mobilised and is working hand-in-hand with the Provisional Electoral Council, or CEP, to make it happen.
"We support the CEP. We are providing it with funding, and the electoral law is ready. The entire government is mobilised to ensure the elections are held smoothly," he said.
For now, the CEP has started registration in parts of the West Department, including Pétion-Ville, Delmas and Tabarre, areas where operations were previously delayed over security concerns. Officials say more centres will open gradually as conditions allow, with each registration site also doubling as a polling station.
Under the revised calendar, Haitians are expected to head to the polls on 13 December for the first round of presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum. A second round is slated for 21 February 2027.
But on the ground, many voters are not convinced.
Agronomist Jean Claude Fleurisaint, who did turn up to register, said elections are vital for democracy but questioned the timing.
"We first need a climate of peace, and only then can we hold elections," he said.
Another voter, Brezil Vignon, echoed that sentiment, warning that daily life has become increasingly difficult due to insecurity and that any vote must be held under the right conditions to be credible.
The stakes are high. If it goes ahead, this would be Haiti's first national election in nearly a decade.
Still, as cbinews.tv reports, electoral officials are clear that two things will make or break a credible and inclusive poll: restoring security and securing enough funding, especially in the gang-controlled areas of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan region.
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