Who is eligible to vote in Albania and can the diaspora vote?
Conditional — the right to vote belongs to every Albanian citizen who has turned 18, and since 2025 the diaspora votes from abroad too. The biggest myth, true for years, was that “Albanians abroad cannot vote without returning to Albania”. That changed: with the amendments to the Electoral Code, in the 11 May 2025 elections the diaspora voted from abroad for the first time. The basic conditions remain: you must be an Albanian citizen, have turned 18 by election day and appear on the voter list by residence. The right to vote from abroad belongs to anyone abroad for reasons of residence, employment, study, military duties or health; registration is done only online at the KQZ, within a window that opens around 120 days before and closes around 68 days before the elections. So the question is no longer “does the diaspora vote”, but “did you register in time”.
📋 The rules
- The right to vote belongs to every Albanian citizen who has turned 18 by election day and appears on the voter list.
- With the amendments to the Electoral Code, in the 11 May 2025 elections the diaspora voted from abroad for the first time.
- The right to vote from abroad belongs to anyone abroad for reasons of residence, employment, study, military duties or health on election day.
- Registration of voters abroad is done only online at the KQZ; the window opens around 120 days and closes around 68 days before the elections.
- The vote is equal and secret; it does not depend on gender, faith or wealth, and is limited only in cases provided by law.
🔓 Exceptions
- Persons declared legally incapable by a court may not be able to exercise the right to vote, under the legal conditions.
- Voting from abroad depends on registering in time; whoever does not register within the online window is not automatically included that time.
- Foreign nationals do not vote in national elections; the right is tied to Albanian citizenship, so only holding it opens the vote.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Here the “cost” has two sides. The first is losing your vote: if you are abroad and do not register online within the window, or do not appear correctly on the voter list, you miss that round of elections — with no fine, but with a right lost. The second is electoral crimes: buying and selling votes, double voting, voting in someone else's name or falsifying documents are punished by the Criminal Code with a fine or prison, because they harm the democratic process itself. Pressuring voters and using public office for votes are also banned. Beware disinformation too: many people lose their vote by believing old myths — “the diaspora doesn't vote” or “an expired ID is enough”. The best protection is to check your registration and your entry on the voter list early.
📎 Official sources
- QBZ · Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania →
- KQZ · Central Election Commission — registration and voting →
- e-Albania · information and services for voters →
❓ Frequently asked
How old must I be to vote in Albania?
You have the right to vote once you have turned 18 by election day and are an Albanian citizen. Beyond age, you must appear correctly on the voter list by residence, so it is worth checking your registration before each round of elections.
Can I vote from abroad?
Yes, with the Electoral Code amendments, in the 11 May 2025 elections the diaspora voted from abroad for the first time. The condition is registering online at the KQZ within the window, because without timely registration you are not automatically included that time.
When does registration for voters abroad open?
Online registration for voters abroad opens around 120 days before the elections and closes around 68 days before them. After the window closes you can no longer register for that round, so the deadline is decisive for voting from abroad.
Do foreign nationals vote in Albanian elections?
No, the right to vote is tied to Albanian citizenship, so foreign nationals do not take part in national elections. This is also a reason why holding Albanian citizenship matters for those who have lived abroad for years.
What does someone who buys or sells votes risk?
Buying and selling votes, double voting and voting in someone else's name are criminal offences punished by a fine or prison under the Criminal Code. These acts harm the electoral process itself, so they are treated far more seriously than a simple administrative breach.
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