Haiti Delays First Elections in Decade to July 2027

Haiti has postponed its first general elections in more than a decade, setting the first round for July 18, 2027, and a second round for October 4. The vote, which will include presidential and legislative races, was delayed amid worsening gang violence and the difficulty of registering voters in areas controlled by gangs; authorities have also expanded online registration. The country has been without a president since Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021, and elections are viewed as an important step toward restoring political stability. Security pressures have intensified as El Salvador sent troops to Haiti after four Salvadoran aviation technicians were abducted, though observers have questioned how the deployment is coordinated with Haiti’s security forces and the U.N.-backed mission.