During the year that we left behind, two election processes were held in Kosovo, and their organization cost the state budget about 13 million euros. The parliamentary elections held on February 14 cost 4.7 million euros, while 17 million euros were planned for the local elections held on October 8.1.

Even after the end of these electoral processes, the need for an electoral reform was raised. This is also requested by the Central Election Commission (CEC), but the election process monitors say that there is a lack of political will for such a reform to become a reality.

The spokesperson of the Central Election Commission, Valmir Elezi, says that during the whole of last year they were engaged in the organization of two election processes, for which it is stated that the CEC has managed to fulfill its constitutional and legal duties for the organization of these elections.

"The CEC has managed to fulfill its constitutional and legal duties for the organization of these elections, despite the fact that we are one of the rare institutions that has such a heavy burden for the organization of election processes within a year. [...] The Central Election Commission is preparing a detailed report regarding the expenses for the organization of local elections. The budget planning for the organization of these elections was in the figure of 8.1 million euros, but usually the expenses are below this planning, however we have to wait for this final report of expenses. [...] Meanwhile, from around 5.6 million euros planned for the organization of early elections for the Assembly of Kosovo, which were held on February 14, 2021, around 4.7 million euros have been spent. Usually, the cost of local elections is higher than the cost of parliamentary elections, one of the main reasons is that for local elections, the holding of the second round of elections for mayors of municipalities is foreseen," he says.

Inaccuracies in the voter list, family voting, assisted voting and invalid ballots are some of the problems identified by the organizations that have monitored these electoral processes.

According to them, the solution to these problems is the finalization of the electoral reform. The Central Election Commission itself is seeking the completion of the electoral reform, where the spokesperson of this institution, Valmir Elezi, says that they are ready to contribute to finalize this reform.

"The Central Election Commission has repeatedly emphasized that the Assembly of Kosovo must complete the electoral reform process. Of course, the CEC is ready to give its professional contribution to this electoral reform regarding all the issues it has faced during the organization of a large number of electoral processes over a decade", says Elezi.

Electoral reform, according to Arton Demhasaj from the Çohu organization, should include the revision of the Law on General Elections, the Law on Local Elections and the Law on Financing of Political Parties.

"The issue of voting from the diaspora must be regulated, we have seen that there are lengthy procedures for voting from the diaspora and these procedures must be simplified and given the opportunity, especially when we talk about the general elections, for the diaspora to vote, either through consulates or through embassies. [...] When we talk about the financing of political parties, I think that even there it should be clearly clarified how political parties can be financed and at the same time there should be more space for transparency, that is, political parties should be obliged to publish their statements financial at least twice a year. Also, when we have an election campaign, immediately or during the election campaign, political parties should publish their reports on where they are financed and how they spend the money they receive. These are some of the main problems related to electoral processes and at the same time to the financing of political parties, which I think the electoral reform should address as soon as possible", says Demhasaj.

Meanwhile, Eugen Cakolli from the Democratic Institute of Kosovo, says that if there was political will, the electoral reform would have been completed 10 years ago.

Cakolli says that since two electoral processes have been concluded, it is the right moment to start a reform process, and within it, he says that the division into electoral zones should be seen as an option.

"If there was political will, the electoral reform would have been completed already 10 years ago when this process was initiated. I consider that despite the fact that there may be no political will, the necessity to address this problem should actually be the main element that would push the political parties and not wait for international requests for such a thing. [...] Since we have the attitude of the political parties, especially the one in power, that certain elements of the electoral system should be changed, I believe that this should be used as a basis for the full opening of the packages that address electoral issues in a way to advance the electoral process", he says.

Kosovo has held extraordinary parliamentary elections in 2019 as well, the organization of which cost the state budget about 5.4 million euros. Meanwhile, the parliamentary elections of 2017 cost 4 million euros, the same as the parliamentary elections of 2014.

The organization of the local elections of 2017 cost the state budget about 7 million euros, those of 2013 cost more than 5 million euros, and the local elections of 2009 more than 6 million euros.