Democracy Without Borders: The Diaspora’s Role in Albania’s 2025 Elections

A graphic representing Diaspora Votes 2025's mission to facilitate expatriates' access their voting rights.

My ballot in Albania’s 2021 parliamentary elections cost me $1,200—the price of a

plane ticket from Washington, D.C. to Tirana.

It was the first time that I was finally old enough to vote in Albania’s elections. Some

would argue that I wasted my money, but they overlook the fact that I grew up in the

context of my parents’ upbringing under a totalitarian communist dictatorship. Bedtime

stories in our household frequently concerned my parents’ struggles for democracy in all

of its dimensions: freedom of expression, assembly, and the ability to have a choice in

elections.

These retellings served as justification for the difficulties in rooting ourselves in a foreign

land far from the safety of our community — a declaration that our hardships were worth

it because of what had come before. Although these bedtime stories originally served to

teach me about my parents’ lives and where I came from, they ultimately established the

basis of my world view.

I vote because I can. I vote for an Albania that our parents could return to. I vote for an

Albania in which I can build a future for myself and those who come after me.

Unfortunately, there are many Albanians in the diaspora who do not share my views

regarding the importance of civic participation. Much of their disagreement is based in a

deep-rooted distrust in Albania’s democratic processes, which has its foundations in

Albania’s rocky transition from an isolationist, autocratic regime to a market-based

parliamentary democracy.

Democracy is a relatively new concept for the Albanian psyche, having only been born in

the 1990s following genuine but largely unsuccessful attempts to transplant Western

European democratic practices into a society not equipped to receive it. What resulted

was an unnatural fusion of Western democratic ideals and communist habits—an

undemocratic democracy that caused Albanians to lose trust in their country’s

poorly-molded institutions.

While some do not vote because they do not believe that the sanctity of their ballot will

be protected, others argue that they prefer to keep looking forwards, not back towards

the country from which they fled.

However, this contradicts the atmosphere I encountered during my college years in New

York City, where I found myself in the middle of a dynamic and vibrant Albanian

community. The city’s annual Albanian parade fills Manhattan’s streets with tupans and

xhubletas as young children gleefully wave their red-and-black flags to the beat of traditional song. The city is home to several Albanian-language schools scattered across

its five boroughs, allowing families to dedicate weekend hours to teaching their

children about their language and culture. Albanian dance schools, restaurants,

mosques and churches, academic societies, professional organizations, journals,

newspapers and art institutes all come together to form a highly active community.

This is not unique to New York City – Boston, Detroit, Chicago and beyond stand as

strong evidence that the Albanians of the United States prefer to not only entrench

themselves in their own communities, but that they are also willing to dedicate great effort

and time in their service.

It is clear that Albanians of the diaspora care deeply about the survival of Albanian

culture and identity as well as the cohesion of their community. It is only logical that

they should also prioritize reforming Albania to facilitate the potential repatriation of those who wish to return.

Presently, the diaspora’s political participation remains low while

Albanians continue to flee in droves towards countries where they will ultimately

acculturate into the melting pot of Western identities.

I do not blame my compatriots, but I do wish to change their minds.

The 2025 Elections

Albania’s decision to grant its diaspora the right to vote from abroad arrived on the

heels of other diaspora voting initiatives across the region. Kosova’s 2021 elections

witnessed an unprecedented turnout of voters in the diaspora, making up 11.5% of all

votes and resulting in a landslide opposition win. In Moldova, diaspora voters

managed to secure a difficult victory for the pro-Western incumbent, despite alleged

pro-Russian attempts to buy hundreds of thousands of votes.

In light of these victories, an Albanian diaspora success story does not seem so

far-fetched. It is estimated that roughly 1.2 million Albanian citizens live abroad, making up 44% of its citizenry. In fact, its diaspora population is so large in

proportion to its resident population that it ranks as the 3rd-largest native-born diaspora

population in the world. The diaspora single-handedly has the potential to change the

course of Albania’s 2025 parliamentary elections.

The Initiative

Diaspora Votes 2025 recognizes the potential of Albania’s diaspora to transform its

election landscape and loosen the power hierarchies of its rigid two-party system. The

non-partisan, youth-led initiative aims to foster the engagement of Albania’s diaspora

with its democratic processes. This includes not only raising awareness about the

procedures and timelines for registration and voting, but also facilitating meaningful

dialogue between community members and experts, academics, and candidates.

Diaspora voters between 18 and 24 constitute the least-represented age group of all

those registered to vote to date. By bridging the gap between diaspora youth and

Albania, Diaspora Votes 2025 hopes to encourage a culture of civic engagement and

independent expression that will pave the way for meaningful reform.

Our ballots in Albania’s 2025 parliamentary elections symbolize the start of a new era

for Albanian democracy — all for the price of a postage stamp.

How to Register

1. First, ensure that you are an Albanian citizen. You will need a valid, unexpired

Albanian passport or ID card as well as a document that verifies the home

address where your ballot will be mailed to. This can be a bank statement, rental

agreement, etc.

2. Visit the Central Election Commission website www.kqz.gov.al and click “Votues

nga jashtë” (Voter from abroad).

3. Click on “Hyr në PER” (Enter in Electronic Registration Platform) and then

“Vazhdo këtu” (Continue here) to open a PER account through the “Krijo Llogari”

(Create an account) button.

4. Input either your phone number or email. You will receive a one-time password

and then be prompted to create your password.

5. You will be prompted to take a photo of your face. Ensure you have good lighting.

6. Input your date and place of birth along with your personal ID number as shown

on your Albanian passport or ID card.

7. Click on “Krijo Kërkesën” (Create a request).

8. Select the type of Albanian documentation you wish to submit: passport or ID

card.

9. Submit the document verifying the home address to which your ballot will be

mailed. Then input your address manually, making sure it matches the one on the

document.

10. Click “Kalo” (Continue) and then “Dërgo” (Send). The Central Election Commission (KQZ) will send either an approval or denial of your request within

five days via the email address or phone number you have provided.

Ujana Zajmi serves as the Vice President and Content Chair of Diaspora Votes 2025. She graduated from Columbia University with her bachelor's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. She has worked at the National Institutes of Health, conducting computational biomedical research, and now works as a consultant for federal health institutions. She is pursuing MD-PhD programs to begin a career as a physician-scientist. She was born in Washington, D.C. to parents from Shkodër, Albania and is invested in the reform of Albanian healthcare systems.