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Haiti has scheduled its first elections in nearly a decade for December 13, with the vote contingent on improved security and adequate funding.
The country’s Provisional Electoral Council said the polls will cover presidential, legislative and local elections, alongside a constitutional referendum.
A second-round vote, where required, is scheduled for February 21, 2027, with final results expected on March 7.
The electoral council said the timetable remained dependent on the establishment of an acceptable security environment and the availability of adequate funding.
Under the schedule, voter registration began on July 20, while candidates have until October 2 to submit their nominations.
Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and the country’s last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021.
The planned vote comes as powerful gangs continue to control much of the country, including most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, raising concerns about whether elections can be conducted safely.
A Kenya-led multinational security mission deployed to support Haiti’s police has struggled to contain the violence. The United Nations-authorised force has since been restructured into a Gang Suppression Force with an expanded mandate to confront armed groups.
A spokesperson for the force said earlier this month that additional personnel were expected in the coming weeks, with plans to increase its strength to about 5,500 uniformed officers and 50 civilian staff.
Haiti is also facing a deep humanitarian crisis. The United Nations said its $880 million humanitarian appeal for 2026 remains less than 25 percent funded.
During a visit to Haiti in June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the humanitarian situation as desperate, while expressing hope that conditions could improve.
“The humanitarian situation here is desperate, but there are faint glimmers of hope,” Guterres said.
According to the UN, nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced in the country of about 11 million, while more than five million are experiencing severe food insecurity.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomed the election timetable and urged countries contributing troops to the Gang Suppression Force to deploy personnel as quickly as possible to strengthen security well ahead of the polls.
