When Albanian voters went to the polls on April 25, most of them were identified and authenticated using a new electronic voter identification system, an innovation that many observers are lauding as a success.
Reinhold Lopatka, head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation cited the introduction of electronic technologies as an “important and welcome improvement for Albania.”
The international election observation mission 65 observers from the OSCE PA, issued a statement with preliminary conclusions on April 26. “I had the pleasure of witnessing the high degree of efficiency of the biometric identification system used throughout the country. This is an important step, which can only increase confidence in the electoral process," commented Lopatka.
The initiative of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) to implement technology was born out of a need to curb voter fraud. Historically, Albania had been racked by allegations of voting manipulation. Authorities had tried to modernize elections before, but after failing to implement a voter verification solution and an electronic counting solution in 2013, it put the introduction of election technology on hold.
"Last year's political agreement prompted important reforms and led to the introduction of electronic technology, which served to increase confidence in the electoral process," said Ursula Gacek, Head of the OSCE / ODIHR Election Observation Mission in Tirana.
Observers also wished that the CEC was able to roll out the technology to all precincts, an undertaking that was hampered by lack of material time in which the agency was only given three months to implement the landmark initiative.
"I wish technology would be used more in the next elections, " said Azay Guliyev, Special coordinator and short-term leader of the OSCE / ODIHR mission.
Lealba Pelinku, a deputy commissioner, is optimistic of future elections, saying that “when the CEC succeeded in three months, I am convinced that in the next elections electronic voting will be a 100% success!”
Aside from the biometric voter identification system, the CEC also piloted e-Voting solutions in selected precincts, indicating that Albania could be headed toward full automation of its elections.
"We observed some of these centers and I can say that it was an extraordinary success," said Valdete Daka, Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission in Kosovo.
Mrs. Kristina Kostelac, Election Administration Analyst / CEC Observer, on the other hand, said that their group “welcomes the adoption of relevant bylaws by the CEC that enabled the use of new technologies, including the Electronic Voter Identification System (EVIS) and pilot projects of the CEC.”
