Haiti has indefinitely postponed presidential and legislative elections that had been scheduled for December, as escalating gang violence and worsening insecurity continue to undermine efforts to restore democratic government.
The Provisional Electoral Council announced that the electoral campaign period would be postponed and that a revised timetable would be published as soon as possible. The first round of presidential and legislative elections had been scheduled for December 13, with a second round set for February 21, 2027.
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An electoral council official confirmed to AFP that the December 13 date would no longer stand. The council said the new schedule would take into account the technical and operational requirements of the electoral process, as well as the conditions needed for the various stages of the vote to proceed.
Haiti has not held national elections since 2016 and has been without a president since Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021. The long-delayed elections had been viewed as an important step toward restoring constitutional government and addressing the country’s prolonged political crisis.
However, large areas of Haiti remain affected by armed gangs, making it difficult to organize voting and distribute electoral materials. Several municipalities under gang control lack voter-registration centers, while threats and road blockades have disrupted access to communities outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The security situation has continued to deteriorate. According to figures cited by UN human rights chief Volker Türk, at least 5,700 people have been killed or wounded in Haiti this year, while more than 1,000 women and girls have been raped. The UN also recorded 230 kidnappings through September 11, although Türk warned that the actual figure is likely considerably higher.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 1.5 million Haitians have been displaced by the violence. Meanwhile, a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force intended to help Haitian authorities combat armed groups has only about 1,500 personnel deployed, compared with a planned strength of 5,500.
The postponement represents another setback for Haiti’s effort to return to elected government. While voter registration is continuing, no new election date has yet been announced.
