THE HAITIAN DIASPORA AND

THE NEXT NATIONAL ELECTION

PARTICIPATE, UNIFY AND THRIVE

ON THE WORLD STAGE

THE HAITIAN DIASPORA VOTE

1. For Haiti's next presidential election, it is proposed to extend voting
rights to qualified and registered individuals of Haitian heritage who are
living abroad. With an out-of-country population of more than two
million, and assuming that ten percent may qualify and want to
participate in elections, this may be two hundred thousand votes, or
roughly ten percent of totals cast in for Haitian president.
2. Considering that the Diaspora is often called Haiti's "Tenth
Department," and that there is now an active Ministry of Haitians Living
Abroad trying to engage the Diaspora in civic, cultural and economic
mutual aid, it is timely and fitting for the government to encourage and
prepare for such proportional participation in choosing the national
leader.

3. As background, universal suffrage, i.e. the right to vote for one's

political leiders, is widely acknowledged as a human right. Today,
more than one hundred nations accord a variety of external voting
privileges to citizens, migrants, refugees and others outside their
homeland or country of origin. The bases and reasons for voting
correspond to the countries' respect for, desire and/or need to
include their citizens abroad in national and international affairs and
democratic practice, and to tap into their whole human resource physical, intellectual and economic - for development and for rapid
response in times of need.
4. Haiti's Constitution recognizes the principle and importance of
universal suffrage. A careful reading finds nothing against Diaspora
voting. Therefore, comprehensive absentee voting for Haitian
nationals abroad should be vigorously pursued and perfected for the
next election, along with extending voting rights to other categories
of Diaspora individuals.

5. Further, Article 52 of the Constitution states that Haitians have a

duty "to vote in elections without constraint." The text seems clear; it
does not require further amendment, but only the executive and/or
legislative branch(es) to facilitate Diaspora inclusion. The five basic
steps are:
1) defining and publicizing eligibility,
2) recruiting and certifying registrants,
3) informing about candidates and voting procedures,
4) selecting, monitoring and safeguarding voting locations, and
5) conducting elections and conveying ballots.
The Haitian overseas community and its host countries will welcome a
signal from the Government of Haiti to permit Diaspora voting for its
next presidential election. In addition, Haiti's many donor countries
and international agencies, plus professional, civic, charitable and
human rights organizations will welcome Diaspora voting.

Especially in this post-earthquake period,

extending the vote to the Haitian Diaspora for the
next presidential election is probably the single
most, clearest and quickest way for the country to
raise its standing, governance and effectivenss in
the hemisphere and around the world.

HOW MANY HAITIANS LIVE ABROAD?

Millions of Haitians live abroad in the United States, Dominican
Republic, Cuba, Canada (primarily Montreal), Bahamas, France,
French Antilles, theTurks and Caicos, Jamaica, Puerto Rico,
Venezuela, Brazil and the French Guiana. By various sources,
there are an estimated
881,500 in the United States,
800,000 in the Dominican Republic,
300,000 in Cuba,
100,000 in Canada,
80,000 in France, and
up to 80,000 in the Bahamas.
There are also smaller Haitian communities in many other
countries, including Chile, Switzerland, Japan and Australia.

Joel Dreyfuss | March 30, 2010

WILL HAITI TAP ITS OVERSEAS TALENT?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/03/will_haiti_tap_its_overseas_ta.html

When the U.N. convenes a group of wealthy countries to declare

their financial commitment to rebuild Haiti on Wednesday, HaitianAmericans will be paying careful attention. Their focus will not be
simply on how much money the "donor" countries are putting up, but
whether there will be a role for the two million Haitians and
hyphenated Haitians living in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Like many poor countries, Haiti has suffered a massive brain drain
over the last 40 years. One international agency estimates that 80
percent of all college-educated Haitians live outside of the country.
Many have been highly successful. The second largest ethnic group
of doctors in New York City public hospitals is Haitian. There are
Haitian academics, police administrators, middle and senior
managers in corporations and elected officials all over the U.S....
It would seem logical for Haiti to tap a deep overseas talent pool that
could bring first-world expertise and an intimate knowledge of Haiti's
quirks and culture to the rebuilding effort...

Dreyfuss, continued:

...While Haitians abroad will be grateful for the world community's

contributions to rebuilding their native land, they will pay even
closer attention to the structures that are put in place to monitor
the spending -- and whether they can win a significant role in
rebuilding Haiti Cherie.

Jean H Charles | May 15, 2010

THE DIASPORA - A TOOL FOR NATION BUILDING

http://columbusjcrc.org/page.aspx?id=221134

"...Haiti after the earthquake of January 12, 2010 must embark into a
new mode of energizing its Diaspora. It is a population of 3 million
people with the financial and intellectual strength that can make a
difference from the brain drain that occurred in the last 50 years. Haiti
has one million people in the Dominican Republic, one million in the
United States and another million in the rest of the world, in particular
Canada, France and the Caribbean....

U.N. Conference on Trade and Development | July 19, 2007

BRAIN DRAIN UNDERMINES PROGRESS IN LDC's

http://www.unctad.org/TEMPLATES/webflyer.asp?docid=8580&intItemID=1528&lang=1

"...Five Least Developed Countries [LDCs] -- Haiti, Cape Verde,

Samoa, Gambia and Somalia -- have lost more than half their
university-educated professionals in recent years because these
professionals have moved to industrialized countries in search of
better working and living conditions, notes the Least Developed
Countries [LDC] Report 2007: "Knowledge, Technological Learning
and Innovation for Development". Seven other LDCs have seen more
than one third of their trained professionals leave...."

LOSS OF UNIVERSITY-EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS

Source: UNCTAD

THE WORLD STAGE

Responding to the consequences of advancing

worldwide democratization and massive economic,
social and cultural globalization, an increasing
number of less developed countries are...seeking
to offer external voting to their citizens, of whom a
significant proportion often reside abroad.
Institute for Electoral Democracy and Assistance, Stockholm

The globalization of political, personal and

professional life, the spread of democracy
throughout the world and an increase in migration
for many different reasons have all contributed to
an increasing interest in voting rights for refugees,
diplomats, members of the armed forces serving
overseas and other people who are temporarily or
permanently absent from their own country.

External voting is currently allowed by one

hundred fifteen [115] countries and territories of
the world. Of those countries, some two-thirds
allow all their citizens a vote from abroad, and onethird partially restrict the right to an external vote.

WORLD DIASPORA VOTING

IN HOMELAND ELECTIONS, 1902-PRESENT

115 COUNTRIES

64 92 25 38

79 16

47

Source:
Voting from Abroad, The International IDEA Handbook
Institute for Electoral Democracy and Assistance
Stockholm, 2007
http://www.idea.int/publications/voting_from_abroad

COUNTRIES WITH EXTERNAL VOTING

COUNTRIES WITH EXTERNAL VOTING, contd

Source:
Voting from Abroad, The International IDEA Handbook
Institute for Electoral Democracy and Assistance, Stockholm, 2007
http://www.idea.int/publications/voting_from_abroad

PROCEDURES FOR EXTERNAL VOTING

PROCEDURES FOR EXTERNAL VOTING, contd

PRINCIPAL DIASPORA VOTING METHODS

PERSONAL [79 countries] - The voter goes to a specific
place - an embassy, consulate or other designated
location - and casts the ballot. This is the procedure
most widely used for external voting.
POSTAL [47 countries] - The voter picks up a ballot, fills
it out and then mails it back to an embassy or consular
official who relays it to election officials for counting.
PROXY [16 countries] - The voter chooses someone
who will cast the ballot for them, either abroad or in the
home country.

AFRICA

ASIA

INDONESIA

CENTRAL AMERICA

EL SALVADOR

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF

HAITIAN DIASPORA VOTING

1. DIASPORA VOTERS
2. CANDIDATES & BALLOTS
3. ELECTION SYSTEM
4. SECURITY
3

1. DIASPORA VOTERS

Voters must be:

1. Respectful of Haitian governance.
2. Fully qualified and officially registered.
3. Informed about dates, procedures & candidates.
4. Interested and educated on the issues.
5. Engaged in pre-election activities.
6. Prepared for the voting process.
7. Attentive to the results.

2. CANDIDATES & BALLOTS

Candidates must:
1. Appear officially and accurately on the ballot.
2. Campaign with appealing and coherent messages.
3. Be responsive to voters' questions.
Ballots must:
1. Have protection against fake ballots.
2. Be available in sufficient quantities.
3. Be easy to read and use.
4. Offer clear choices.

3. ELECTION SYSTEM
The election system includes:
1. Accessible locations for registration and voting.
2. Transparent registries and act of voting.
3. Selection, training & oversight of election officials.
4. Rehearsals of the registration and voting process.
5. Community outreach on registration and voting.
6. Proper, non-political conduct with voters.
7. Efficient and fair relations with candidates.
8. Respect for voters on election day.
9. Careful management of completed ballots.
10. Prompt reporting of election results.

4. SECURITY

Security is required over:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Voter registration and qualification papers.

The supply and distribution of ballots.
Returned ballots, both absentee and in-person.
The counting of ballots and reporting of results.
Transport of completed ballots to Haiti.