CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY”

GUIDE

FOR

OBSERVERS Elect, Vote, Decide! 1 CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY”

Introduction

Greeting message from CEC

Dear Observers,

On the occasion of the election for the Assembly of the Republic of , and on behalf of the Central Election Commission, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome for observing the elections to all observers.

The President of the Republic of Albania, H.E. , with decree no. 11700, dated 09/06/2020, has set the date of April 25, 2021, as the date of elections for the Assembly of the Republic of Albania.

On the occasion of the development of the election process, the Central Election Commission has the pleasure to present this publication directed to all observers. This publication is an expression of our consideration and institutional evaluation of the relationship that we have with international and local organizations for achieving the required standards of the election.

The Central Election Commission through this Publication has tried to summarize general information for Albania and provide essential knowledge on the system and election process. We hope it will be useful to you in fulfilling your work responsibilities during your stay in our country.

The CEC would like to thank You and the diplomatic representation in , for the contribution and support given to improve the election process in Albania.

I wish you success in your mission,

Sincerely, ILIRJAN CELIBASHI State Election Commissioner Central Election Commission

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Table of contents

An overall outlook of Albania ...... 4 Geographical data ...... 4 The map of the Republic of Albania ...... 5 State organization ...... 6 Territorial and Administrative Division ...... 8 Judicial System ...... 8 Electoral college ...... 9 The parlamentary election system ...... 9 Institutions for preparation and administration of elections ...... 12 Electoral Subjects...... 18 Preparation for the election process ...... 20 Election Procedures ...... 22 Appeals’ Procedures ...... 27 Observetion ...... 29 Important numbers ...... 37 Places to visit in Tirana ...... 37 Website address for information ...... 37

Abbreviations

BCC Ballot Counting Center CEAZ Commissions of Election Administration Zones CEC Central Election Commission CSO Civil Status Office CT Counting Team EAZ Election Administration Zone EZ Election Zone NCSR National Civil Status Register VC Voting Center VCC Voting Center Commission VL Voters’ Lis

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An overall outlook of Albania

Official name: Republic of Albania

Capital: TIRANË

National holidays: November 28, 1912 Independece Day November 29, 1944

Popullation: 4,544,977

Ethnic groups: Shqiptar 95% Grek 2%-6% Other 2%

Official language: Shqipe

Curentcy: Lek

Geographical data

Location: South-eastern Europe, along the coast of Adriatic and the Ionian Sea

Area: 28,748 km2 (27,398 km2 land + 1,350 km2 waters)

Border Countries: In a total of 720 km territorial border, 282 km is the border line with Greece (south), 151 km to Macedonia (east) 287 km to Kosovo and Montenegro (north)

Coastline: 362 km long

Climate: Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures, humid and cool winters, and hot and dry summers

Elevation Extremities: The 0 meter and Mountain of Korabi 2, 751 m

Territory: Mainly hilly and mountainous, often covered with dense forests and field terrain along the coast

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The map of the Republic of Albania

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State organization

Albania is a parliamentary republic. The Republic of Albania is a unitary and indivisible state. The governance is based on a system of elections that are free, equal, general, and periodic.

Parliament

The of Albania consists of 140 deputies, elected according to a proportional election system with competition at the regional level and national threshold. The election subjects that reach the national threshold are included in the distribution of mandates. Voters have the right to preapprove the candidates of the multi-names lists.

The criteria and regulations for the application of the , for assignment of election zones, the national threshold, the number of mandates for each zone, the distribution of mandates, and the extension measures of the preapproval election are established in the elections . The election law guarantees that no less than two-third of lists from the multi-names lists are to be subject to preapproval election and provide gender representation.

The multi-names electoral zones comply with the administrative division of one of the levels of organization of territorial-administrative. The criteria and regulations for the application of a proportionate electoral system, for assignment of electoral districts, and the mandates number for each district are established in the elections law.

The Parliament is elected for a four-year term. The Assembly elections are held not earlier than 30 days and not later than 45 days after Assembly dissolution.

The President of the Republic

H.E. Mr. Ilir Meta is the President of the Republic of Albania. The President of the Republic is the head of state and represents the unity of the people, article 86 of the Constitution. A presidential candidate must be a natural-born citizen of Albania, a resident in Albania no less than the past 10 years, and one who has reached the age of 40 years.

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The President of the Republic issues decrees according to his powers. He cannot exercise other powers except those provided for by the Constitution and granted by deriving in compliance with it.

Counsel of Ministers

The Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Albania is Mr. . Based on the Constitution, Article 95, the Council of Ministers is composed of: - The Prime Minister - The Deputy Prime Minister - Ministers

The Councel of Ministers is the highest executive body and exercises all the governmental functions that are not given to other state or local government bodies. Based on the Constitution, Article 100, the Council of Ministers establishes the guidelines of the general state policy. The Council of Ministers makes decisions upon the proposal of the PM or the respective minister.

The Prime Minister:

 represent the Council of Ministers and chair its meetings;  conceives and presents the principal direction of general state policy and is responsible for them;  ensures the implementation of legislation and policies adopted by the Council of Ministers;  coordinates and control the work of the members of the Council of Ministers and other institutions of central state administration;  performs other duties provided in the Constitution and laws.

The Constitutional Court

Based on the Constitution, Article 124, the Constitutional Court guarantees respect for the Constitution and makes final interpretations of it. The Constitutional Court is subject only to the Constitution.

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Nine Judges comprise the Constitutional Court. The Assembly, the President of Republic, and the Supreme Court, each have the right to appoint three members of the Court. Judges’ mandate lasts for nine years without the right to be re-elected. They are elected among lawyers with high qualification and with work experience not less than fifteen years as a judge, district attorney, attorney, professor or lecturer of law, Jurist of higher level in public administration, with a remarkable work in the area of constitutional law, human rights or other areas of the law.

Territorial and Administrative Division

To have a peaceful administration and to increase the practical possibility of the citizens of the Albanian state exercising the right to self-governance, an administrative and territorial division is applied to the entire territory of the Republic of Albania. The municipality and the mayor of the municipality are representative organs of the basic units of the local government. The territory of the Republic of Albania is divided into 61 local units, which are Bashkite.

Regarding the county (Qarku), a county is a unit of the second level of the local government and as such is comprised of some units’ base of the local government, which are united based on their traditional, economic, and social connections, and common interests. The County is the unit that serves as a bridge that links the central and local government. Actually, in this unit regional policies are designed, executed, and harmonized with the state-level policy.

Judicial System

The judicial system of Albania is divided into three levels which are, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the First Instance Court, which are established by a special law. The Assembly may establish courts for particular fields by law but in no case an extraordinary court.

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Electoral college

The Electoral College of Tirana Court of Appeals is composed of eight judges selected by random drawing by the High Council of Justice. The pool for drawing includes all the judges of all Courts of Appeals in the Republic of Albania. This drawing happens no later than five days after the date of parliamentary elections is decreed and no later than 48 days after the issue of the decree. This body exercises its functions throughout the duration of the of the Assembly which emerged after the elections, elected through drawing and function for all types of elections.

The parlamentary election system

Constitution

The Consitution is the highest law in the Republic of Albania. The Constitution (Law no. 8417, dated 21.10.1998, as amended) is one of the basic principles for the foundations and organization of the Albanian State. As such, it ratifies the functions of an entire state mechanism provided for in the , thus creating the boundaries of a state.

The Constitution guarantees every citizen who has reached the age of eighteen on the date of the elections, the right to vote and to be elected. Exception from the right to vote are only citizens who have been declared mentally incompetent by a final court decision, and also are deprived form the right to be elected the convicts that are serving an imprisonment sentence. In exceptional and justified cases, the law can curtail the right to vote to the citizens that are serving imprisonment sentence.

The principle of freedom ensures that every citizen can cast his vote freely, protected from any kind of threat, and ensure all political rights that can be exercised during the election process.

The principle of equality gives each vote equal weight with the votes of other voters. This principle must also respect the preservation of proximity between zones in terms of the number

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The principle of inclusiveness implies inclusion in the voting of all the citizens who have reached the age that qualifies them to be registered effectively. The procedures of registration and participation, both for voters and candidates, must be impartial and non-discriminatory.

The principle of confidentiality requires the voter to cast the ballot alone in a room that ensures the secrecy of exercising the right to vote. As a result, the ballot, that is now marked, cannot be seen until it is placed in the box.

Election Code

Setting the date for the Assembly elections

The President of the Republic issues a decree for setting the date of the election for the Assembly no later than 9 (nine) months before the termination of the mandate of the Assembly.

The election system for Assembly

The Albanian Parliament consists of 140 deputies elected by a proportional system with multi- name constituencies.

For the elections for the Assembly of Albania, the constituency: complies with the administrative-territorial division of the region, and serves as an electoral unit for the election of a certain number of mandates.

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The number of seats for each constituency is as follows: 11 3 o Berat 7 mandate 7 o Dibër 5 mandate 5 o Durrës 14 mandate

14 o Elbasan 14 mandate 36 o Fier 16 mandate 14 o Gjirokastër 4 mandate

16 o Korçë 11 mandate 7 11 o Kukës 3 mandate o Lezhë 7 mandate 12 4 o Shkodër 11 mandate o Tiranë 36 mandate o Vlorë 12 mandate

The candidate for deputy should fulfill the following conditions:  Must have reached the age of 18 on election day or before it;  To have not to have been declared by a final court decision as incapable of acting, due to mental incapacity;  Not suffering an imprisonment sentence.

Cannot run or be elected unless they prior resign from the post of:  judges, prosecutors;  members of the military in active duty;  members of the police force and national security;  members of diplomatic mission;  mayors of municipalities and communes for election in Assembly;  deputies when they compete for election in local government units;  prefects in the counties where they perform their tasks for elections in Assembly and local government units;  chairs and members of election commissions;  The President of the Republic and high officials of the public administration as defined by law.

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Institutions for preparation and administration of elections

The Central Election Commission (CEC)

The Central Election Commission is the responsible institution for the organization and administration of elections and . Leads and oversees the activity of election administration, who monitors the activity of the election subjects, the state units and institutions, and the media in connection with elections. Solves administratively the requests or complaints in connection with the election process.

The CEC’s governing bodies are:

State Election Commissioner

The State Election Commissioner (Commissioner)

 is a monocratic organ that exercises executive power and directs the CEC administration;  directs and supervises, directly or through the CEC’s administration, the activity of the election administration during the election and the referendums; and  leads the process of training and qualification of the election administration.

The Albanian Assembly by decision no. 56/2020, elected as State Election Commissioner Mr. Ilirjan CELIBASHI.

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The Regulatory Commission (Regulatory)

 is the competent body for approval of acts with normative character for the election and set of regulations for elections; and

 function part-time and exercises the in public meetings, which are organized by the Commissioner, with the participation of interested parties.

The Complaints and Sanctions Commission (CSC)

 is the competent body for reviewing administrative complaints and imposing sanctions for violations of the electoral law; and

 function part-time and exercises the in public meetings, which are organized by the Commissioner, with the participation of interested parties.

State Deputy Election Commissioner, a new structure of CEC’s

The Deputy Commissioner co-exercises with equal rights with the Commissioner the competencies for:

 Selection, monitoring, and implementation of technology for electronic voter identification; and

 Selection, recruitment, and training of election officials.

The CEC’s Structure

In order to function and fulfill the tasks that derive from the Election Code, the CEC’s administration is composed of civil servants. The CEC’s General Secretary is the highest civil servant in the CEC’s administration.

The CEC’s departments are:

The General Directorate of Election Administration comprise of:  The Directorate of Commissions and Election Materials  The Directorate of Data Administration and IT Systems  Directorate of Communication

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The General Directorate of Regulatory, Economic and Support Services comprise of:  Legal Directorate and Election Documentation  Directorate of Financial Control and Internal Audit  Directorate of Budget  Directorate of Human Resources

The Central Election Commission’s office is located in Tirana. Its address is: Rr. “Ibrahim Rugova”, Nr.4, Tiranë, Shqipëri, T/F.+355-4-2281650 Website: www.kqz.org.al, e-mail: [email protected]

The electoral Administration consists of:

 Electoral Administration Zone Commission (CEAZs)  Polling Station Commissions (VCCs)

 Ballot Counting Teams (BCTs)

Commission of Election Administration Zone (CEAZ)

The CEAZ is responsible for the administration of elections in the Election Administration Zone (EAZ) based on the Election Code and the regulatory legal acts that it publishes. The EAZs are established and function for all kinds of elections and referendums. The territorial jurisdiction of the EAZ is the same as the administrative territory of the municipality, except for municipalities that have more than 80 thousand citizens with the right to vote. For the parliamentary elections of April 25, 2021, the Regulatory Commission approved the establishment of 92 EAZs. The ZAZ is a collegial body and consist of seven members and the secretary which are appointed from the Commissioner.

The Commissioner’s decision no. 40, dated 23.12.2020, appointed the political parties that would nominate the members and secretaries of the CEAZs. The distribution of seats in the CEAZ for the elections for the Assembly of Albania on April 25, 2021, are as follows:

 The Socialist Party of Albania - two members in each CEAZ,  The Social Democratic Party - one member in each CEAZ,  The Democratic Party - two members in each CEAZ,

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 The Socialist Movement Party for Integration - one member for each CEAZ.

The chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the CEAZs have been appointed by the Commissioner according to the proposals of the respective CEAZs:

 In CEAZs with odd numbers, the chairman is one of the members nominated by the Democratic Party.

 In CEAZs with even numbers, the chairman is one of the members proposed by the Socialist Party.

The chairman of the CEAZ is of opposite political affiliation to the deputy chairman. The secretary of the CEAZ has the same political affiliation as the deputy chairman. The CEAZ’s duties are laid out in the Electoral Code (Article 33 of the Electoral Code). The CEAZ accomplishes its tasks in an impartial, professional, and transparent manner, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Code and other normative acts issued by the Central Election Commission.

The importance of the participation of CEAZs members in training programs  Participation of CEAZ members in training is a legal obligation!

 CEAZ members participating in the training program will be tested.  The new CEAZ member, appointed after filling the vacancy created, for any reason, will undergo training and testing.  Non-participation in training, failure to pass the test, is a legal reason for dismissal from duty.

* Citizens who are listed in the list approved by the Commissioner, even if they are not mainly appointed by the Commissioner or the CEAZ as members of the CEAZ or the VCC, can participate in the training organized by the CEC and will be subject to testing for acquired knowledge.

Training programs and courses will offer:

 Informing and acquiring knowledge of the Electoral Code and bylaws of the CEC;

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 Training of commissioners in practical terms by correctly implementing legal procedures;

 Training of commissioners to implement the rules of ethics, in any problematic situation, created, in accordance with the legal framework;

 Strengthening the spirit of cooperation between CEAZ members, with the aim of creating a supportive, credible, impartial, accountable environment, to give as much value as possible to the good administration of the electoral process.

Also, the training courses will affect the professional qualification of the commissioners, the clarification of legal procedures, the ability to put into practice the knowledge gained, the strengthening of trust, competencies, reliability, and courage, cooperation in finding solutions based on evidence and facts, consensus, tolerance, trust, stimulation of ideas, dispute resolution, communication, effective process management.

Voting Center Commissions (VCC)

The VCC is a collegial body composed of seven members, where one member functions as its secretary. The VCC is formed according to designations of Election Code, Article 29. VCCs have the same composition as CEAZs. The members of VCCs are appointed only during the period of election. They are responsible for the conduction of elections in voting centers. There are a total of 5199 VCCs in Albania.

The VCC’s Chairman and Secretary are elected by the CEAZ. In half of the numbers of VCCs, the seventh member belongs to the main party of the parliamentary majority, the Chairman is elected one of the VCCs members, which represent the main party of the parliament majority, while in the other half, a member of the VCC is elected, who represents the main party of the parliamentary opposition. The Secretary is of the opposite political affiliation with the Chairman.

The proposals for members and secretary of the VCC are made no later than 30 days before election day. The members and secretary of the VCC should be appointed no later than 5 (five) days from the submission of proposals of political parties. In any case, the appointment of the members, chairman, and the secretary, is made no later than 20 days before elections.

If the VCC fails to take a decision, the case is sent immediately for review to the CEAZ, which makes a decision based on election dispositions.

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Special VCCs are established in special institutions, which include: prisons, detention centers, and hospitals, or other healthcare institutions that hospitalize patients for more than 3 days.

Ballot Counting Teams

It consists of 4 members, one of them is the first counting person and another secretary. They count the votes at the level of EAZ, issue the election results for each VC of the respective constituency for the electoral subjects.

To count the ballots at the EAZ, counting teams and counting desks are established 10 days before the voting, based on CEAZ decision. The ballot counting teams are established pursuant to article 95 and 96 of the Electoral Kode.

Counting teams are two for each counting table. Teams consist of four members which count no less than five and no more than ten voting centers.

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Electoral Subjects

Political Parties and election coalitions

1. As political parties participating in elections ,we understand the political party that has applied to be registered as an electoral subject to the CEC no later than 70 days before the election date, in accordance with the procedures provided for in the Eelection Code (article 64), which submitt to the CEC the multi-name list of candidates for each electoral zone, no later than 50 days before the election day, (article 67, point 1). The political parties registerd as indipendent subject for Assmbly election of April 25 are 46 in total. For each constituency in the Assembly elections, not less than one in every three names on the multi-name list must belong to the under-represented gender.

2. Whith election coalition, we can understand two or more political parites registered as electora subjects ne CEC. Pursuant to article 64, they can be rregisterd in CEC as election coalition in country scale, no less then 60 days before the election day. The political party, the member of a coalition, depozit in CEC its multi-name list of candidates, for each election zone no less than 50 days before the date of election (neni 67, point 2).

For elections for Assembly of April 25, 2021 are register two coalitions:

1. Partia Demokratike - “Aleanca për Ndryshim” (PD-AN) 2. Aleanca Bashkimi Popullor Emigracioni - Ora e Shpresës dhe Konservatorët (ABEOK).

Candidates

1. A "candidate" is an Albanian citizen, registered as a candidate running for Assembly deputy, in accordance with the Election Code, for whom is going to be voted in the election (Article 2, point 4 of the Electoral Code).

2. “Candidate proposed by a group of voters” is a candidate that is not supported from political parties and is proposed from voters in accordance with the Election Code, to be voted in the election (Article 2, point 3 of the Electoral Code).

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For Assembly elections of April 25, 2021 there are five independet c andidates registerd. The candidates are:

1- z. Kreshnik Merxhani, County Gjirokastër; 2- z. Boiken Abazi, County Tiranë; 3- z. Iljaz Shehu, County Lezhë; 4- z. Elton Debreshi, County Dibër; 5- z. Pal Shkambi, County Shkodër

For Assembly’s election, voters shall have one ballot, color and formated the same for each electoral zone.

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Preparation for the election process

Measures taken by the CEC for preparation of election process

The CEC, immediately after its establishment, began an intensive work, for the preparation of the electoral process in order to be effective and conform to election legislation. The CEC drafted the orientation plan of actions, which outlines all decisions to be implemented along with the respective deadlines.

The action plan of the CEC for the Assembly elections, clearly and accurately provides:  the timeframe for conducting all activities and programs;  legal references;  actions to be taken;  the sector responsible for their implementation.

Voters’ Education Campaign

The CEC approved the Electoral Education Program for the Assembly elections of April 25, 2021, which aims to include all voters for information and awareness, for polling stations, identification procedures, voting methods, awareness of women, young voters for the first time and persons with limited abilities. Also in focus is informing voters and electoral subjects about violations and criminal offenses that may be committed during the electoral process, informing about state administration bans, financing of Political Parties and preventing them.

The information programs will be implemented through the cooperation of the CEC with local and international partners. Their involvement in the implementation of electoral educational programs, their expertise, commitment and support are considered important actors in fulfilling the mission of the CEC.

Election Logistics

In order to improve the logistics used during the voting process, the CEC has taken several decisions and has approved:  the ballot box specimen;  the specimen of the following stamps: CEAZ, VCC and VCC chairman stamp;  the booth model, in particular for people with disabilities;  stamps with the security codes (in these elections, their color has changed)  records for the seal reserve, in case of damage /if VCC stamp becomes out of use;  model to be used for different records

All these elements ensure a higher safety and they are also easy to use.

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Voters’ List

Voters List

Drafting the Voters’ List  The voter list is compiled for each voting center and includes all the voters, whose residence is registered in the NCSR of that voting center. Voters are included in list based on their residence zip code.  On a voting center zone are no less than 300 and no more than 1,000 voters residing in its territory.  The list of voters who vote from abroad includes only voters with residence abroad, who declare their will to exercise the right to vote, according to the rules issued pursuant to article 24 of this law.

Overseeing of the process of voting lists from CEC

The CEC oversees the process of drafting lists, by requesting information from the General Directorate of Civil Status and local government units for the process appointment of center voting zone and the voters number for each voting center, in compliance of the Code and the civil status law. The CEC not later than 30 days from the election decree, appoints two technical auditors, who have the same access to NCR as the General Director of Civil Status Service, to verify the actions in the database of the National Civil Registry. Auditors present a monthly audit report to the CEC on audit findings, according to the tasks set by the CEC or objections or issues related to the implementation of legislation relating to the civil status registry (Article 61).

Content and format of the voters’ list

Voters’ list divided according to polling places. This list is published by CEAZ in each voting center, in a public place with free entry, no later than 35 days before the elections; Voter’s list divided by voting centers (this list is delivered by the CEAZ to the respective VCCs, along with other voting materials by CEAZ to be used by the VCC on election day). This format includes the space for noting the document identification number, and the space for voter's signature;

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List of voters in a constituency level. This format is kept by the CEAZ and serves to inform the voters. Articles 48,55,56 and 57

Voters not registered on the Voters List

When a voter finds that that he/she is not registered in the final voter list of the polling unit he/she checks with the CEAZ to find out whether his/her name is included in the respective list of the electoral zone. In any case, upon the request of the voter, the Secretary of the CEAZ issues a certificate which states whether a person is or is not registered in the final voter list of the respective EAZ. The voter has the right to submit a request to the respective district court until 24 hours before the election date when he/she finds that:  there are inaccuracies in his/her electoral components;  he/she is not registered in the final voter list of the local government unit (borough/commune/municipality) he/she is resident of. The district courts examine the requests and take a decision about them during the election day as well, but no later than 6 hours before the closing of the polls.

Election Procedures

Opening of the voting center

The VCC chair declares the opening of the polls, not earlier than 07.00. The VCC, under the direction of its Chair and secretary and in the presence of the observers, one hour prior to the opening of the voting, performs the following duties according to article 101, item 1 of EC:  arranges the tables, chairs and voting booths in such a manner as to ensure the secrecy of the voting and the free and rapid movement of voters;  removes any propaganda material that may be found in the voting center and within a range of 150 meters around it;  posts instructions for conducting the voting at a suitable and visible place in the voting center;  places other materials required by the CEC;  checks all materials received;

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 shows to observers the empty ballot boxes and closes them according to the procedure specified in letter “e” of this article;  seals the ballot boxes with the security codes and records the numbers of the security seals in the Record of Sealing of the ballot boxes and in the VCC Meeting Records Book, which are signed by all VCC members. If any of the seals with the security codes is damaged during the closing of the box, it is replaced by one of the additional seals. The number of the security code of the damaged seal and that of the additional one is noted in the VCC Meeting Records Book and the Record of Sealing. The original official record is enclosed within the envelope marked “ENVELOPE FOR THE SEALING RECORDS” which is put into the ballot box for the electoral subjects before the beginning of the voting process. Copies of the Record of Sealing with the stamp of the VCC are given to the VCC members and to observers of the parliamentary parties;  clearly writes the number of the voting center on one side of the box, and places distinguishing signs that make it clear to the voter where to cast each ballot paper.

In the end of this procedure, the VCC members, in the presence of the observers, take a decision on opening the voting and sign it. Subsequently, no earlier than 07.00, the CEC’s chairman declares the opening of the voting.

Voting procedures

In Assembly elections, a ballot box is placed inside the voting center:

Only the following persons may remain in a voting center during the voting procedures:

 The members and the secretary of the VCC;  Voters who are carrying out the voting procedures until they are completed; and  Accredited Albanian and foreign election observers.

The procedures carried out after the voter enters the VC are as follows:

1. the voter states his/her name and presents to the VCC one of the following valid identity documents:

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 Identity card; or  Passport

2. The chairperson of the VCC, after verifying that the voter is the same as the person in the identity document, hands over the identity document of the voter to the technical operator of the VC.

3. The voter is stamped on the left hand by a member appointed by the decision of the VCC with a special subject, visible to the naked eye and which is not removed for not less than 24 hours, in order to avoid voting for more than one times and then given the ballot paper. In case the voter refuses to be stamped with the special case, he / she is not given the ballot paper and his / her identity a note is kept in the Book of Minutes of VCC Meetings.

 upon the receipt of the ballot paper, the voter proceeds alone to the voting booth and votes on the ballot paper by marking next to the name of the electoral subject or of the party which is member of a coalition with the sign “x” or “+” or another sign that clearly indicates the voter’s choice; and

 after voting, the voter folds the ballot paper so that the mark cannot be seen but at least one of the stamps on the reverse side of the paper is visible. After leaving the voting booth, the voter deposits the ballot paper in the respective ballot box and leaves the voting center.

A voter who, for physical reasons, is unable to perform the voting procedures him/herself may request the assistance of a family member or another voter who is on the voter list for that polling unit. Both voters shall be present at the voting center when this procedure is applied.

Procedures for closing the voting center

Voting centers close at 19:00 If, even after the closing time, there are still voters queuing, the VCC collects the identification documents of all the voters present and calls them one by one in order to conduct the voting. No other voter is allowed to vote if he/she was not in the queue at the time the identification documents were collected. The VCC makes a decision to close the polls by filling in the

Elect, Vote, Decide! 24 CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY” respective record, recording also the time of closing of the polls. The decision for the closing of the polls and the exact time of closing are recorded in the VCC Meeting Records Book. Afterwards, only the members and secretary of the VCC, as well as the accredited Albanian and/or foreign observers and accredited representatives of the media, may remain in the voting center

Procedures of receipt of materials

No later than three hours from the closing of the polls in the voting center, the CEAZ, located in the building where the ballot counting will take place, in the presence of all its members, observers of political parties, accredited observers in these elections, receives by the members and the secretary of each VC, escorted by a police officer:

 ballot box/as with the ballot papers  box with voting materials  other election materials

The CEAZ assigns one or more receipt teams to receive the ballot box/es with the ballot papers and the box/es with voting materials. The receipt teams consist of 2 CEAZ members with different political affiliations, proposed respectively by the Chair and Deputy Chair of the CEAZ. If deemed necessary, the CEAZ may appoint 2 persons for each team to assist the team for receiving the boxes, and who are mainly responsible for arrangement of the boxes under the guidance of the CEAZ. The support personnel are selected from the list of Counting Teams members, while guaranteeing, in any case, the political balance between the majority and the opposition. The ballot box/es with the ballot papers and the box/es with voting materials are received as soon as they arrive at the Ballot Counting Centre, according to rules established by the CEC (article 115).

Procedures followed by Counting Teams

The CEAZ shall make a decision to start the counting of votes only after having received all boxes with the ballot papers and boxes of voting materials from all the voting centers under its jurisdiction.

The actions of the counting team are established in Article 116 of the EC.

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Release of election results

The Aggregate Table of results of the election administration zone is issued by the CEAZ no later than 22:00 am of the following election date. The procedures followed for the tabulation of result in the CEAZ, are as follows:

After completing the counting, according to the procedures laid down in Articles 116 to 119 of this Code, CEAZ fills in the Aggregate Table of Results of Elections for the zone under its administration, reflecting the results of each subject for voting center, based on the original tables of results for each VC completed by counting teams. The EAZ Aggregate Table of Results is approved by a CEAZ decision. In case they fail to approve it, the provisions of article 35, item 5 of this Code apply. A copy of the Aggregate Table of Results and tables of results for each polling station are immediately sent to the CEC, including electronic means of communication.

Copies of the Aggregate Table of Elections Result of the EAZ, tables of results of the voting centers and copies of the Record of the Findings are given to CEAZ members and observers of electoral subjects, while their originals, seals and any other election material are delivered to the CEC.

Electronic system of data transmission

After the ballots of a voting canter are counted, the results are entered into the CEC’s election information management system. These results will be released in a format similar to the minutes signed by GNV

Once these results are confirmed by the CEAZ Secretary, they will be transmitted over the network to the server at the CEC. These preliminary results will be immediately displayed to the public through an interactive web page, while the final results and mandates won by the parties and candidates will be displayed only after approval by the CEC. The same system of transmission will be used to report to the CEC the status of the voting centres (e.g., open, delayed voting, closed, etc.), and the voter turnout at various intervals during the day.

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Appeals’ Procedures

Complaints filed at the CEC

Any political party, regardless of the fact whether it is a coalition member or not and a candidate proposed by the voters have the right to complain to the CEC against CEAZ decisions which affect their legitimate interests, or against the CEC decision on adoption of the respective tabulation of results of the election zone. The appeal is filed within three to five days from the announcement of the decision (article 124). The CEC takes a final decision concerning complaints against the decision on the approval of the Table of Election Results no later than 10 days, while in case of other complaints, the CEC issues a decision within two days. In reviewing the complaint, CEC examines the case in its entirety, without being limited to the scope of the complaint filed by the electoral subject. For purposes of administrative investigation, the CEC may decide to examine the ballot papers and election materials inside the ballot box and the box of election materials. The examination takes place in the presence of the complainant, interested parties and the public.

At the conclusion of examining the complaint, the CEC decide to:  dismiss the examination;  uphold the CEAZ decision;  amend the CEAZ decision;  declare the elections invalid in one or several voting centers of  the electoral zone or in the entire electoral unit;  uphold or amend the decision on approving the Aggregate Table  of Results for electorale zone.

Complaints to the Electoral College

The electoral subjects have the right to appeal against CEC decision that affects their interests or failure of the CEC to reach a decision within the legal deadline, to the Electoral College of Tirana Court of Appeals. The appeal must be filed within five days after the publication of the relevant decision of the CEC (or after the end of the deadline for receipt of this decision). Electoral College issues a decision within 10 days after filing of the complaint.

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At the end (of the review), the Electoral College decides to:

 reject the appeal  judges the case based on its merits and decides its full/partial review or partial/full rejection.  binds the CEC to reach a decision

The Electoral College decision is final and cannot be appealed. The full justification of the decision must be made within three days from its announcement. (Articles 145-159).

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Observetion

Observers’ Role

Election observation is a practice that has been long followed in our country, and not only by international organizations, but also by local nonprofit organizations. The object of observation is to assess whether elections are elections meet international election standards.

The scope of observation is to assess compliance with the electoral structure and compliance with the legal provisions defined in the electoral legislation, guidelines, regulations and other decisions of the CEC. In additions, the observers, through their presence, can prevent violations of human rights related to the election process, which also serve to increase voters’ confidence in the integrity of the process. However, the simple presence of observers is not considered as a fact that adds to the legitimacy to the electoral process.

Observers must have a very good knowledge of processes that are subject to monitoring and legal norms that regulate them. Furthermore, the observers should have general knowledge of election system and human rights particularly highlighted during the election process. Also, observers should follow a code of conduct.

Observers’ Code of Conduct

This code is the result of a several -year experience gained by the OSCE / ODIHR in numerous missions conducted in almost the entire European continent. It contains the basic rules and principles which should guide all observers in fulfilment of their mission. The below list of rules and principles should be followed by all observers:

 Observers should be strictly impartial in carrying out their duties, and at no time should express partiality or preference in relation to national authorities, parties, candidates, or in connection with any controversial issue in the election process;

 Observers must perform their duties in a non-imposing manner and should not interfere in the election process, election day procedures, or ballot counting;

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 Observers should bear identification badges issued by the host government or election commission and must identify themselves to any interested authority if required;

 Observers will not display or wear partisan symbols, colors or banners;

 Observers may want to draw attention to local election officials regarding irregularities, but they should never give instructions or reject decisions of election officials;

 Observers will base all conclusions on well-documented verifiable evidence and facts and should fill in the statistical form of observation of the visited voting centers;

 Observers should be reserved and not make any personal or premature comment in the media or to other interested people;

 Observers should restrict any remarks about their observations, even if in the form of general information about the nature of their activity;

 Observers will participate in post-election consulting, via fax or phone, if necessary; and

 Observers must comply with all national laws and regulations.

Observers’ rights and duties

The Election Code and CEC Instruction No.13, dated 22.04.2009 "On accreditation procedures and rules of election observation Albanian non-governmental organizations and foreign, international organizations, representatives of foreign countries and media", establishes a series of rights and duties the observers of the electoral process must adhere to.

The Article 7 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania, the observers have the following rights and duties:

During the exercise of their duty, the observers have the following rights:

 to observe uninhibited all aspects of preparation and conduct of elections and all stages of the election process;

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 present written remarks to the election commissions regarding any type of irregularity they observe; and  see and review the documentation or materials of the election process.

The observers have the following duties:

 respect the provisions of the Electoral Code and the CEC instructions on election observation;  act impartcially and should not make any propaganda in favor of any candidate, party or coalition or alternative inside the voting premises or other places prohibited by this Code;  to appear in the elections commissions with the authorization issued by the CEAZ; accompanied by a personal identification document recognized by the CEC  they should not wear distinctive signs that are considered as propaganda or that influence the voters will; and  they should not violate the confidentiality of the voting right and they should not hinder the voting and ballot counting process.

According to the above Instruction, in additions to the rights provided by the Electoral Code, the observers

Can:

 Ask questions to the Election Commission, without hindering its activity;  Freely observe the ballot counting process;  Enter and exit freely the election premises freely.  Be accompanied by an interpreter in case of a foreign observer

Should:

 Not interfere with the electoral process, the procedures of the election day, ballot counting process, the announcement of results and Elections Commissions activity;  Follow the rules of ethics inside election premises;  Not comment on and/or debate the decisions of the VCC/CEAZ/BCT and the voting process.

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MAIN CITIES INFORMACION

TIRANA Tirana is the capital of Albania and the largest commercial, administrative and cultural center of the country. It is located in the center of Albania enclosed by mountains and hills with Mount elevating on the east and a slight valley on the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea in the distance. The area has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The ruins of the first century AD castle, mentioned by the Byzantine historian Prokop, have been found at the foot of Mount . The modern-day Tirana was founded in 1614-en by Sulejman Pasha Bargjini, a feudal lord of this province at that time. Pasha Bargjini’s initial buildings of the mosque, the hammam, the bakery, and the inn became the nucleus of the future city. Currently, the only trace of the re-establishment of the city is the tomb of Kapllan Pasha. During the centuries Tirana was described as a beautiful city with very vivid colors, among the waters and the greenery, as a city with a developed life. The mosques of Tirana were considered elegant and very artistic in their interior decoration. The Congress of Lushnja in the 1920 designated Tirana as the provisional capital, and in January 1925, was finally established as the Albanian capital.

Some of the most interesting cultural sites are The Monument of our National Hero Gj. K. , located in , and the Mosque of Et'hem Bey. From the top Clock Tower, which is 35 meters high, can be seen a wide view of the Skënderbej Square, a large space surrounded by several tourist attractions and where all the roads of Tirana lead to. Also worth mentioning are the monuments of the Tabakëve Bridge (first half of the 19th century) as well as the Monument of , located in the Martyrs' Cemetery. In the southern part of the city is the large national park, which occupies an area of about 250 hectares and includes the artificial lake and the Botanical Garden. The garden has numerous species of plants and ornamental shrubs. The city has developed greatly during the last decades and the new hotels, restaurants, discos, pubs and other entertainment locations have turned Tirana into the city that never sleeps.

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DURRËSI Durrës is the largest seaports as well as the main railway connection center of Albania. Durrës has regular sea connections with the Italian ports’ of Barit, Brindizit, Ankonës dhe Triestes. Durrës has regular sea connections with the Italian ports’ of Barit, Brindizit, Ankonës dhe Triestes. Durrës, an ancient city, was founded in 627 BC and was known as EPIDAMUS and later DYRRACHIUM (according to the mythology of Epidamus' nephew). During that period, the city was the prosperous center and main seaport of the eastern Adriatic. During the I and III centuries, it played an important role as a trading center on the Egnatia Road, connecting Rome with Byzantium. The most important archeological site is its amphitheater, the largest in the Balkan Peninsula. This amphitheater was built in the second century BC with a capacity of 15- 20 thousand spectators and had an early Christian Underground Room, with rare mosaics on the wall. Also, it is worth mentioning the medieval castle, of V-VI centuries. Durres is located close to the international airport and the capital Tirana. During your stay in Durrës, it recommended that one should visit the Archaeological Museum, rich in the antiquity articrafts. Durres, with its 6 km long and shallow beach is a great attraction for locals as wells as tourists to spend their summer vacations.

SHKODRA Shkodra is one of the main cities of Albania and is located in its north-west. It is one of the oldest cities in Albania and has a diverse history. This city was founded in the IV century BC and was the main center of the Illyrian state. During the 14th century it became the main center of the Bushatllin Principality. In 1396 it was conquered by the Republic of Venice. Throughout its history, the city has played a very important role in the culture and . The city and the surrounding area are rich in numerous and varied natural and cultural objects. The city has retained its characteristic features such as, the narrow streets between high stone walls and

Elect, Vote, Decide! 33 CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY” high gates. These features can be distinguished quite well in the suburbs of Serresh and Gijadoll. Rozafa Castle is one of the most important points of the city, built on a hill overlooking the city, between the rivers Drini and Buna.

GJIROKASTRA Gjirokastra, the stone city, lies in the southern part of Albania, on the eastern slope of the Broad Mountain. Due to its strategic position, this ancient city dating back to the first century AD, was transformed into a fortress, which later became the center for the further development of the city. In 1336 it was first named ARGJIROKASTRA. What most impresses visitors to this city are the typical and characteristic houses, which resemble small fortresses, stacked on top of each other. Their exterior combines sternness with the beauty of windows, small rooms as well as beams that support the roof extending from the walls. The most attractive characteristic feature is the stone, which is masterfully worked by the builders. As a result, Gjirokastra has been called the "city of a thousand steps" or the "stone city" and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

BERATI The city of Berat is one of the oldest cities in Albania. Berat is an ancient Illyrian sites of the Dezareti tribe, at the beginning of the century. III BC and later was transformed into a fortified city known as Antipatrea. With a strategic geographic position on one of the few passageways between the Adriatic Sea and the Balkan Peninsula, and on the banks of the Osum River, about 130 km south of Tirana, Berat, became a rich commercial and cultural center from the 6th century BCE. It features a castle, locally known as the Kala, most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back to the 4th century BC. The citadel area numbers many Byzantine churches, mainly from the 13th century, as well as several mosques built under the Ottoman era which began in 1417. Berat bears witness to the

Elect, Vote, Decide! 34 CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY” coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries. Its urban center reflects a vernacular housing tradition of the Balkans, examples of which date mainly from the late 18th and the 19th centuries. For it monumental values Berat was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

KRUJA The historic city of Kruja, is thought to have been first mentioned as the center of the Christian faith in year 879. In the medieval periods Kruja became the most educated city in the feudal family of Topiaj and the capital of the Principality of Arbri. During the The Ottomans evesion of Europina continent, they conquered Kruja twice, once in 1396 and once in 1415. After the 1443 under the leadership of the Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), Albanian National Hero, Kruja turned into the symbol of popular resistance against the and saved Europe from ottoman domination. Today, the city of Kruja rises 560 m above sea level, on the mountain slope. Visitors can find this city a magnificent view and a collection of historical and cultural objects, with its magnificent Castle as its crown.

VLORA Vlora is one of the most beautify costal city’s of Albania. Located in front of the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island, close to many sandy and rocky beaches as well as a picturesque landscape near the mountains. Vlora, through its seaport, has close connections with the Italian ports of Brindisi and Bari. Vlora dates back to the fourth century and is known as AULONA. The city is of great importance for the history of Albania as the independence city. The independence of Albania was declared in Vlore in the year 1912, after five centuries of Ottoman occupation. The commemoration of this historical event is the "Independence Monument", which was erected in the "Flag Square". Close to the monument is the Muradiye Mosque, which was built in 1542 by the famous architect Mimar Sinani. Another

Elect, Vote, Decide! 35 CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION Observers’ Guide “2021 ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY” beautiful religious site is "Kus Baba" (object of the Bektashi sect), which is based on a hill overlooking the city. From Kus Baba you can enjoy the beautiful view of the city.

SARANDA Saranda is one of the cities of the known for its deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. Its existed as an ancient port city, as part of the proto-Greek area of the 3rd-early 2nd millennium BC. Saranda takes its name from the Byzantine monastery of Agioi Saranda (Greek: Άγιοι Σαράντα), meaning "Forty Saints". The name was changed from Aya Sarandi during Ottoman rule, to Santi Quaranta during Venetian rule, and to Porto Edda to honor Mussolini 's daughter during World War II. After the restoration of Albanian independence, the city is called by its Albanian name, Saranda. The small port throughout history became a city during the rule of communism. In recent years, Saranda has seen a steady increase in tourists, both domestic and foreign. Visitors are attracted by the natural environment of Saranda and its archeological sites. Near Saranda are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

KORCA The city of Korca is located in the southern part of Albania, on the side of the Morava mountain. Korca is situated on an Illyrian settlement, which is thought to be related to the culture of Barç (many old tombs have been discovered there). In the XV century it was developed as a craft and trade center and in the second half of the XIX century became othe countryu’s largest economic, Korca is old and one of best preserved cities of Albania. The befamous and well known constructions of the city are the "Cathedral" (the largest in Albania) and typical cobbled streets and alleys the neighborood between St. George and the Republika Bulevard. In the center of the city is the monument of the “Albanian Warrior”, while in the western part there is a traditional Bazaar and many bars, taverns, restaurants and hotels.

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The city has a series of museums such as: The Museum of Medieval Arts, the Museum of Education, where the first Albanian school was opened and the house of the Albanian painter Vangjush Mio.

Important numbers

Emergency (First Aid)………….……………….……..……………………………………112

24-hr Farmacy Rruga “Asim Vokshi”, Blv. "Zogu i Zi” 1010, Tiranë ……...... …...+355 4 562 9666

State Police ……………………………...... …...... ……...………………………………129

Traffic Police Services………………………………………...……..……………………126

Emergency Police Services…………………………………....………….….……………127

Emergency Fire Services…………………………………………...... ………………128

Places to visit in Tirana

National Historic Museum Skënderbej Square...... 04 22 23 977

National Art Galery Blv. “Dëshmorët e Kombit”……….…..…………………………………………04 22 26 033

Archaeological Museum “Nënë Tereza” Square...... 04 22 40 711

Natural Siences Museum Rruga Petro Nini Luarasi 76, 1010, Tiranë...... 068 694 6691

Website address for information http://kqz.gov.al/ http://www.gjk.gov.al/ https://www.parlament.al/ https://kryeministria.al/en/ https://president.al/en/ https://www.avokatipopullit.gov.al/sq/

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The voting center premises:

The organization of VNVs, organization chart of functions of VNV

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