May 2, 2026
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP in French) submitted a new budget proposal to the government after the previous $250 million plan was rejected by the Prime Minister. According to several internal sources, the revised cost of the upcoming elections is now estimated between $220 million and $230 million.
CEP officials explain that the reduction remains limited due to the numerous expenses associated with organizing the elections. The institution states that it must rebuild a large portion of its electoral infrastructure, which has been abandoned since the last elections held nearly a decade ago.
The CEP also emphasized that several new expenses are increasing the cost of the current electoral process. Among them are voter registration, the creation of tabulation centers in each department, and diaspora participation in voting.
Unlike the 2015 and 2016 elections, the electoral institution no longer benefits from the same level of international logistical support. Some costs, however, have been reduced thanks to the government’s provision of public buildings to host electoral structures.
The revised budget was prepared with the support of CEP technicians and international partners connected to the United Nations. Meanwhile, the government has still not indicated whether it will approve this new financial package, while the electoral calendar remains pending publication of the electoral decree.
