Haiti launches first university program in electoral law

In a landmark effort to professionalize Haiti’s electoral system and break the country’s cycle of political instability, the State University of Haiti (UEH) and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on Friday signed an agreement creating the country’s first academic program dedicated to electoral law and administration.

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The signing ceremony, held at the Ritz Kinam Hotel in Pétion-Ville, brought together UEH Rector Dieuseul Prédélus and CEP President Patrick Saint-Hilaire, who formalized the launch of the “Chair of Law and Administration of Electoral Operations in Haiti.” The new initiative aims to provide structured, interdisciplinary training to future electoral officials and researchers.

“This chair stems from a painful observation,” Rector Prédélus said during his remarks. “Haiti’s fragile electoral system continues to fuel political crises. Democratic consolidation demands a professional, impartial administration. Without trained experts, our electoral system remains vulnerable to manipulation.”

CEP President Saint-Hilaire echoed those concerns, calling the new program a critical step toward long-term democratic reform. “The CEP is betting on a bold idea: that knowledge, not just ballots, can drive our transition and strengthen the rule of law,” he said. He also urged the UEH to incorporate the new curriculum across all law schools under its umbrella, especially in provincial cities.

According to Florence Mathieu, the CEP’s university sector representative, the chair’s mission includes offering diploma- and certificate-granting training, conducting interdisciplinary research on elections, and strengthening the capacities of electoral offices across the country.

Planned training will be delivered in stages: short-term seminars, intermediate programs lasting one or more months, and full university diplomas—including a university diploma in electoral professions, a master’s degree in electoral law and litigation, and both professional and research-based master’s degrees in electoral sciences.

Eugène Pierre-Louis, President of the Chair’s Scientific Council, said the initiative seeks to “normalize democracy” in Haiti by addressing the chronic dysfunction of its elections. “We must break the vicious cycle of contested ballots, endless transitions, and post-election crises,” he said.

Set to be implemented in the next academic year, the chair represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet to build long-term institutional capacity in Haiti’s electoral system—by placing education at the heart of democratic renewal.