Haiti · POLITICS
The vote is set for December 13, 2026, but gang violence and a recent US immigration policy shift loom over the process.
Haiti December election is set for the first round on Sunday, December 13, 2026, according to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). This marks the first presidential vote in a decade, as reported by Reuters.
Provisional Electoral Council Sets the Date
The Conseil électoral provisoire (CEP), or Provisional Electoral Council, published its official 2026-2027 electoral calendar on July 26, 2026. In addition, the calendar sets the first round of the presidential election, legislative elections, and a popular ratification for December 13, 2026.
The second round of legislative and presidential elections, along with local authority elections, is scheduled for Sunday, February 21, 2027. Meanwhile, Reuters reported on July 27, 2026, that this is the first presidential election in a decade.
An August vote was postponed. The CEP’s nine-member board is appointed per the constitution, though a 2024 decree installed seven members.
However, the council’s president, Jacques Desrosiers, represents the press sector. The council’s official site describes a nine-member board, but a decree from September 2024 installed seven.
However, the president, Jacques Desrosiers, represents the press sector.
Haiti December Election Timeline
Candidate registration runs from August 20 to October 2, 2026, according to Franceinfo La 1ère. The campaign opens on October 5, 2026, and lasts 69 days.
Electoral lists are published on November 13, 2026, and preliminary results are posted on December 19, 2026. This calendar supersedes an earlier version that had set the first round for August 30, 2026.
The campaign period lasts 69 days, ending just before the vote. Meanwhile, preliminary results are due six days after the first round.
The calendar also sets the second round for February 21, 2027, with local elections. Meanwhile, the previous version had scheduled the first round for August 30, 2026.
Security Concerns Shape the Vote
The Haiti December election comes amid severe gang violence. For example, UN expert William O’Neill stated that at least 26 gangs control up to 90 percent of Port-au-Prince.
They also control its suburbs. Meanwhile, the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that at least 1,642 people were killed and 745 injured in early 2026.
Gang violence has also spread to the outskirts of Port-au-Prince and into the Artibonite and Centre departments, according to UN News. In the first quarter of 2026, at least 1,642 people were killed and 745 injured, per BINUH.
Still, the violence has spread northward, affecting more regions. The UN expert’s figure applies only to Port-au-Prince and its suburbs, not the whole country.
Still, gang violence has spread northward into Artibonite and Centre, per UN News.
Displacement Crisis Continues
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 1,466,862 internally displaced people in Haiti in May 2026, up 1 percent from December 2025. A later IOM report put the figure at close to 1.47 million in July 2026.
In fact, 84 percent of displaced people are housed outside formal sites. This ongoing displacement adds to the challenges of organizing a credible election.
Most displaced people live outside formal sites, straining local communities. As a result, the crisis complicates voter registration and election logistics.
The IOM recorded 1,466,862 internally displaced people in May 2026, up 1 percent from December. As a result, 84 percent are housed outside formal sites, straining communities.
Transitional Leadership Ends
The Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), an unelected body created to run the executive, ended its mandate on February 7, 2026. According to Ouest-France, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé became the sole executive authority after the CPT dissolved.
The CPT’s mandate could not be extended, as per its founding decree. This leaves the country without an elected president, making the Haiti December election crucial for restoring democratic leadership.
The CPT’s mandate ended on February 7, 2026, and could not be extended. Consequently, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé holds sole executive power.
The CPT’s mandate ended on February 7, 2026, and could not be extended. Consequently, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé became the sole executive authority.
US Ends Temporary Protected Status
Separately, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians ended on July 27, 2026. This status, first granted after the 2010 earthquake, had shielded about 350,000 Haitians from deportation, as reported by France 24.
As a result, the US Supreme Court allowed the revocation on June 25, 2026. A federal judge lifted the blocking order on August 5.
This makes the status fully effective in ending, although the figure of 350,000 is a media estimate, not an official government count. The status was first granted after the 2010 earthquake and later extended until February 2026.
However, the Trump administration shortened that window in February 2025. TPS, first granted after the 2010 earthquake, ended on July 27, 2026.
However, the 350,000 figure is a media estimate, not an official count.
Election Conditional on Security
The Haiti December election is conditional on security, as authorities announced it under that condition, according to Franceinfo. The CEP’s calendar is a step forward, but the situation on the ground remains volatile.
However, the CEP has not provided a date for the winner to take office, and no inauguration date appears in the calendar. The focus remains on whether the vote can be held safely.
The December vote depends on security improvements, as authorities have stated. Meanwhile, no inauguration date has been announced for the winner.
The December vote is conditional on security, as authorities announced. Meanwhile, no inauguration date for the winner appears in the calendar.
Previous Calendar Superseded
The July 2026 calendar replaces an earlier version, which had set the first round for August 30, 2026, in Le Moniteur. That earlier calendar also had different dates for results and the second round.
The new calendar, however, has not been confirmed in Le Moniteur, only published by the CEP and reported by outlets like HaitiLibre. Still, it stands as the current official schedule.
The earlier calendar, published in Le Moniteur, set different dates for results and the second round. However, the new calendar has not been confirmed in the official gazette.
The July 2026 calendar supersedes the earlier one published in Le Moniteur. Still, the new version has not been confirmed in the official gazette.
Looking Ahead to the Vote
As the Haiti December election approaches, the country faces immense challenges. The CEP’s seven-member council, led by Jacques Desrosiers, is tasked with organizing the vote despite the security crisis.
In short, the election offers a chance for Haitians to choose a new president after a decade without one. Whether it succeeds depends on security and the ability to hold a free and fair vote.
The CEP’s seven-member council, led by Jacques Desrosiers, faces the task of organizing the vote. Nevertheless, the election offers a chance for Haitians to end a decade without a president.
The CEP’s seven-member council, led by Jacques Desrosiers, faces the task of organizing the vote. Nevertheless, the election offers a chance to end a decade without a president.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Haiti December election?
The first round of the Haiti December election is set for Sunday, December 13, 2026. The second round is scheduled for February 21, 2027.
What is the Provisional Electoral Council?
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) is the body that organizes and supervises elections in Haiti. It has seven members, despite the constitution providing for nine, and its president is Jacques Desrosiers.
Why is this election significant?
This is the first presidential election in a decade, according to Reuters. It follows the end of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate in February 2026, leaving the country without an elected president.
How does the security situation affect the election?
The election is conditional on security, as authorities announced. Gangs control up to 90 percent of Port-au-Prince.
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