Published: November 28, 2005
Inter-American Body Optimistic About Upcoming Haitian Elections
By Eric Green Washington File 
New dates established for presidential, legislative vote
Washington -- The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) has expressed "cautious optimism" about the setting of new dates for Haiti's upcoming presidential and legislative elections.
In a November 27 statement, OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza said the setting of official election dates in Haiti by the country's Provisional Electoral Council helps to ensure that the country not only holds elections "but good elections." (See related article.)
Insulza said Haiti's electoral council has established the dates of January 8, 2006, for the first round of presidential and legislative elections, February 15 for the second round of those elections, and March 5 for municipal and local elections.
Elections in Haiti were originally scheduled for October and November of 2005, but the OAS said the schedule was pushed back due to the complexity of organizing the vote.
Insulza said that although the electoral process was slow to get off the ground, "considerable progress has been made, which allows us to be cautiously optimistic about having organized, orderly and credible elections early in the new year."
Despite the inability to retain a February 7, 2006, date for the transfer of power to a new elected Haitian president, Insulza said "it is clear that the interim government of President Boniface Alexandre and Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has every intention of leaving office as soon as the electoral process is completed."
Several "critical advancements" have been made in Haiti's electoral process, said Insulza, noting the conclusion of a massive voter registration campaign, which registered more than 3.5 million Haitian citizens, or over 80 percent of the total eligible voter population. In addition, the distribution of Haitian identification cards has begun, as have the printing of ballots and the recruitment of 36,000 poll workers for the three polling days, Insulza said.
The OAS secretary-general urged all sectors of Haitian society, notably political parties and civil society groups, to continue to participate actively in the electoral process in order to contribute toward "transparent, inclusive and credible elections."
The United States is providing $15 million to support Haiti's upcoming elections; in 2004, it provided $8.7 million to support Haiti's electoral process. (See related article.)
For more information on U.S. policy toward, see Haiti.
Source: U.S. Department of State
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