Kosovo voters are heading to polls today to elect a new parliament in a snap election, marking the country’s third parliamentary vote in less than two years following a prolonged political deadlock and repeated failures to establish stable governing institutions.

According to the Central Election Commission, CEC, voter turnout reached 8.29 percent by 11:00, with 162,439 of the 1,959,962 registered voters casting their ballots.

“The process is going according to plan, and with no problems that would cause disruptions,” CEC Chairman Kreshnik Radoniqi said.

The turnout figures are similar to last elections held on December 28, when 8.27 percent of voters had cast their ballots by 11:00.

After casting his vote, acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is seeking another mandate as Vetëvendosje candidate, has called on citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote.

“The higher the voter turnout, the greater the legitimacy of our institutions and the stronger their stability,” Kurti said.

Acting President Albulena Haxhiu also encouraged broad participation, adding that voter engagement strengthens democracy in Kosovo.

“The higher the participation in these elections, the stronger our democracy becomes. I invite all political actors and all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo to demonstrate maturity, respect for one another, and love for our country on this beautiful sunny day,” Haxhiu declared.

Vjosa Osmani, former President of Kosovo and head of the Democratic League of Kosovo’s, LDK, candidates’ list, expressed hope that the electoral process would contribute to strengthening democracy and enabling the swift formation of new institutions.

“I wish all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo a fair and orderly electoral process, one that contributes to democracy and facilitates the timely establishment of institutions so that Kosovo can overcome its consecutive political crises,” Osmani said.

LDK prime ministerial candidate, Lumir Abdixhiku described elections as a “celebration of democracy and the free expression of the people’s will”.

“Despite the frequent elections we have had recently, Kosovo continues to organise fair, successful, and democratic elections. Today, on this beautiful day, we expect another good and democratic electoral process,” Abdixhiku said.

PDK prime ministerial candidate, Bedri Hamza, after casting his ballot, called on citizens to vote based on their convictions.

 “It’s a beautiful day, let’s use it to go out and vote as today we are deciding our future for the next four years,” Hamza said

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo’s prime ministerial candidate Ardian Gjini called on citizens to exercise their right to vote: “I invite the citizens of Kosovo to come out and vote, to take Kosovo into their own hands.”

The Prosecutorial System announced that more than 100 state prosecutors and prosecutorial officials have been deployed across the country to monitor the process and will remain on duty until voting concludes.

Chairman of the Central Election Commission, CEC, Kreshnik Radoniqi, confirmed that all preparations for election day had been completed and that voting commenced according to plan across the country.

“The CEC has been engaged in preparations since the election date was announced, and all necessary arrangements have been completed,” Radoniqi told the media.

The election-monitoring coalition Democracy in Action, DnV, reported that voting began on time and without major issues. However, it noted a small number of delays, mainly technical problems with cameras and isolated cases involving campaign materials near polling stations. 

The election follows two previous parliamentary elections that failed to produce lasting stable institutions. The first, in February 2025, did not result in the formation of a government, while the second, in December 2025, ended in institutional deadlock over the election of a president, leading to the dissolution of parliament in April.

The voter register for these elections includes around 2 million eligible voters.

Voting within Kosovo is being conducted at 949 polling centers comprising a total of 2,550 polling stations.

In-person voting abroad concluded on June 6, 2026 and was organised in 30 diplomatic missions, including 17 embassies and 13 consulates, with a total of 47 polling stations.

Vetëvendosje is  running in the elections in coalition with three smaller parties-Guxo, Alternativa, and the Albanian Christian Democratic Party. The three main opposition parties—the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK—are running independently.

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