PZAP breaks CEC's decision to allow diaspora to vote with expired documents

PZAP said it has approved it on the basis of complaints filed by the Kosovo Democratic Institute over this CEC decision on the June 7th elections.

“ANULOW the decision of the Central Election Commission (KQZ), No.011198/2026 of the date 03.06.2026, regarding the approval of the Recommission for the Release of the Republic of Kosovo's documents with the expired vote term of the presidential vote in the Diplomatic Representative”, says in the PZAPCE decision.

“Paneli, after reviewing complaints, responding to the Central Election Commission's complaint, the controversial decision and other subject papers, found that the complaint is based. The panel has found that subject paperwork results in the Central Election Commission, with no decision. 01/1198/2026, of the date 03.06.26, has approved the recommendation for allowing the Republic of Kosovo's documents to be allowed for an extended term of validity at polling stations under diplomatic representation”.

According to the panel's assessment, the CEC did not have legal authorisation that through the administrative decision, voters outside Kosovo would allow them to vote with expired identification documents, in a situation when the Law for General Elections seeks to expressly submit valid identification documents. In all, Article 90, paragraph 1 of Law No. 08/L-228 for the General Elections stipulates that, for the purpose of elections, the citizen rightly votes inside the country and on diplomatic representation can vote if he is identified correctly on the Voters' List and offers one of the valid documents issued by the Republic of Kosovo, the ID, passport or driving permit, respectively, the decision said.

The panel estimates that this provision is clear and does not allow dualism in interpretation that would equal the document valid with the expired document.

“in this case the law did not just use the “dukment identification”, but specifically requested “valid identification settings”. Therefore, the validity of the document is not only a formal element, but a legal condition for identifying voters on election day and granting them the opportunity to vote”.

“In the answer given to the CEC has stressed that during the phase of voter registration outside Kosovo, it has allowed specific applicants to register by submitting expired identification documents. However, PZAP estimates that this circumstance in no way can be interpreted with automatism as the right to vote with documents expired on election day. From the voter registration procedure and voting procedure are two different phases of the” election process.