A new electoral decree reduces the required documents and lowers registration fees

Fewer administrative and medical documents required in the file

The list of requirements set out in Article 153 has been streamlined by removing several administrative documents. Applicants no longer have to submit the certificate issued by the Bank of the Republic of Haiti certifying the absence of bankruptcy, unpaid debts, withdrawn checkbooks, or successive defaults on payment. The decree also removes the obligation to obtain a certificate of non-insolvency from the National Old-Age Insurance Office and the Industrial Development Fund. Furthermore, the medical certificate required in the previous version is no longer mandatory.

On the tax front, the requirement to have paid taxes annually and submitted returns on time over the past five years has disappeared. Article 153 now requires proof of final tax returns covering five years for the positions of president, senator, deputy, or municipal council member, and two years for candidates running for CASEC and ASEC. However, candidates are still required to be in good standing with the tax administration pursuant to Articles 76, 84, and 95.

Across-the-board reduction in candidacy fees

Under the provisions of Article 157, the fees required to run for office drop significantly for almost all positions. While the cost for the presidency remains set at two million gourdes, the amount required for the Senate falls from 800,000 to 400,000 gourdes, and the fee for the Chamber of Deputies drops from 300,000 to 100,000 gourdes. Mayoral slates will have to pay 50,000 gourdes instead of 100,000 gourdes. Finally, the fees drop from 25,000 to 15,000 gourdes for CASEC and plummet to 5,000 gourdes for ASEC, down from 25,000 previously.

New deadlines for resignations and the electoral calendar

Regarding interim executive agents wishing to run, Article 153 grants them a maximum period of seven days following official publication to step down from their positions, on pain of having their application rejected, replacing the previous requirement to resign two months before registration. At the same time, the Provisional Electoral Council has pushed back online registration and document submission to October 31, 2026. While an initial schedule set the legislative and presidential elections for December 13, 2026, the institution has postponed the official campaign, the new schedule for which will be finalized with the authorized parties.