The registration window for Kosovar citizens living abroad to vote in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections officially closed at midnight on Sunday.
Over a 12-day period, the Central Election Commission (CEC) received a staggering 142,803 applications. The vast majority have already been processed, and registered voters are now preparing for the next phase of the electoral process, depending on their chosen method of casting a ballot.
CEC Spokesperson Valmir Elezi provided preliminary data on the outcome of the registration drive.
“Based on preliminary figures from the start of the process on May 6 until its conclusion on May 17, 2026, a total of 142,803 registration requests were received via our electronic platform,” Elezi stated. “Of these, 109,696 have been approved so far, 7,325 have been rejected, and 25,702 remain under review.”
Mail-In Voting Emerges as Top Choice
According to the CEC data, voting by mail remains the most popular method for the diaspora. A breakdown of the approved applications reveals the following preferences:
| Voting Method | Number of Approved Voters |
| Mail-in via international postal boxes (outside Kosovo) | 81,901 |
| In-person voting at diplomatic missions | 24,940 |
| Mail-in directly to the CEC (within Kosovo) | 2,855 |
Key Voting Deadlines
Spokesperson Elezi highlighted that the voting process for citizens living abroad will take place ahead of the main election day in Kosovo.
- Mail-in Voting: Scheduled to begin on May 25 and conclude on June 6.
- In-Person Voting at Diplomatic Missions: Will take place on June 6.
Logistics and Review of Diplomatic Venues
To facilitate mail-in voting, the CEC has established functional postal boxes across 23 different countries, including Kosovo. The exact addresses of these postal locations are set to be made public later this week.
Regarding in-person voting at embassies and consulates, the CEC is currently reassessing its initial plans.
“Initially, voting was scheduled to take place across 48 diplomatic missions with a total of 70 polling stations, spanning 33 embassies and 15 consulates,” Elezi explained. “However, since some diplomatic missions recorded fewer than 50 registered voters during this period, the CEC will review the final list of embassies and consulates where physical voting will be hosted on June 6.”
