The head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celiabashi, responded to media interest regarding the diaspora voting process at a press conference.
Celibashi, in his speech, states that according to him, despite sporadic cases, the process is going very well and we are not dealing with a failed process, but a process that is going well, but has its own problems.
The Chief Commissioner reports that the number of returned ballots is relatively high, estimated at over 17 thousand ballots, while adding that there remain around 30 thousand voters who have not yet received their ballots.
"It remains important that the ballots reach 100% of the voters and are returned 100%. The return remains at the will of the voters. I think the number of returns is relatively high. We have 17 thousand or so voters out of 245,935 who have returned the ballot. We are following it and are in the process of fulfilling DHL's obligations regarding the obligation they have to distribute all electoral documentation. There are about 30 thousand voters who have not yet received it. We have a little less than two weeks available and I think it is possible to distribute even those ballots that have not been distributed so far. Beyond the problems, in my opinion, the process is going relatively well. We do not have major problems. We do not have a system that is failing. We have a system that is functioning, but there are problems. It is a fully functional system. We are cooperating with all the actors in this process", says Celibashi.
Meanwhile, when asked about the problems that may arise with electronic voting equipment, Celibashi stated that the problems of 2023 were related to the organizational aspect and not to the equipment. The Chief Commissioner adds that these problems have also been addressed and in the May 11 elections we will not have problems like those of 2023.
"The problems of 2023 are related to the organizational aspect on our part as the CEC. Due to some errors and have nothing to do with the equipment itself. We have addressed those problems and are working with specialists in the field and I think that in the May 11 elections we will not have problems like those of 2023", emphasizes Celibashi.