Haiti begins voter registration amid gang violence ahead of Dec 13 elections

Voter registration opened on Thursday in Haiti’s capital, Port‑au‑Prince, with ten centres set up in relatively safe neighbourhoods. Officials plan to add more sites, including twenty in the wealthier district of Pétion‑Ville, as the country prepares for a first round of general elections on Dec 13. Haiti has not held national elections for more than a decade and has lacked a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Prime Minister Ariel Henry faces pressure to deliver the vote despite gangs controlling an estimated 70 % of the capital and key routes to the Central and Artibonite regions, displacing about 1.4 million people. Analysts warn that large parts of the electorate could be excluded; Diego Da Rin of the International Crisis Group said, “If the government insists on holding elections on Dec 13, a large part of the electorate will be left out.” Police and a UN‑backed mission have reclaimed some areas near the National Palace, but security remains fragile. Jacques Desrosiers, president of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, said more registration centres will be opened in the coming weeks. The electoral council also announced the start of the campaign period, giving parties just over two months to organise under strict financing rules, while stressing the need for minimum security in territories occupied by armed groups.