the haitian diaspora vote

THE HAITIAN DIASPORA ANDTHE NEXT NATIONAL ELECTION

“PARTICIPATE, UNIFY AND THRIVEON 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 "TenthDepartment," 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 votingcorrespond 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, DominicanRepublic, 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, Haitian-Americans 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, 2010THE DIASPORA - A TOOL FOR NATION BUILDINGhttp://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, 2007BRAIN DRAIN UNDERMINES PROGRESS IN LDC'shttp://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 morethan 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 one-third partially restrict the right to an external vote.”

115 COUNTRIES

64 92 25 38 79 16 47 2 2

WORLD DIASPORA VOTINGIN HOMELAND ELECTIONS, 1902-PRESENT

Source:Voting from Abroad, The International IDEA HandbookInstitute for Electoral Democracy and AssistanceStockholm, 2007http://www.idea.int/publications/voting_from_abroad

COUNTRIES WITH EXTERNAL VOTING

COUNTRIES WITH EXTERNAL VOTING, cont’d

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

PROCEDURES FOR EXTERNAL VOTING

PROCEDURES FOR EXTERNAL VOTING, cont’d

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

INDONESIA

ASIA

EL SALVADOR

CENTRAL AMERICA

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OFHAITIAN DIASPORA VOTING

1

23

4

1. DIASPORA VOTERS2. CANDIDATES & BALLOTS3. ELECTION SYSTEM4. SECURITY

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. Voter registration and qualification papers.2. The supply and distribution of ballots.3. Returned ballots, both absentee and in-person.4. The counting of ballots and reporting of results.5. Transport of completed ballots to Haiti.