The race against time: Lebanon’s expatriate vote hangs in the balance

The long-debated proposal to grant Lebanese expatriates the right to vote from abroad has once again exposed the country’s deep political divisions. While some parties insist that citizens should cast their ballots only inside Lebanon, this position overlooks the practical reality: for hundreds of thousands of Lebanese living overseas, traveling home for elections is costly and often impossible.

Record registrations, persistent obstacles

In 2022’s election cycle, 225,114 expatriates registered to vote a dramatic increase of nearly 171% compared to 2018. These figures highlight the enduring attachment many Lebanese maintain to their homeland despite years of political dysfunction and economic collapse.

Christian networks accounted for the largest share of registrants 53%, while Muslim voters represented 47%. Geographically, the diaspora is spread across continents:

Asia & Australia: 34.13%

Europe: 30.45%

United States: 27.05%

Africa: 7.68%

Yet registration has not always translated into participation. In 2022, only 63% of registered expatriates ultimately cast their ballots, many deterred by the long distances and logistical hurdles of reaching polling stations abroad.

Legislative deadlock and bureaucratic hurdles

The question of whether expatriates should be allowed to vote for all 128 parliamentary seats rather than only for seats reserved for the diaspora remains unresolved. A draft law introduced by Industry Minister Joe Issa El-Khoury sought to move the issue forward, but it has yet to reach parliament. As a result, the government’s role has been confined to issuing recommendations rather than enacting reform.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has developed and fully tested an online registration platform. It is ready for use but still awaits Interior Ministry approval. With the constitutional registration deadline of November 20 approaching, the lack of clarity has discouraged many potential voters from registering, leaving the process vulnerable to further delays.

Political stalemate

Expatriate voting is effectively paralyzed by Lebanon’s chronic political impasse. Speaker Nabih Berri has pointed to continuing subcommittee discussions, but repeated attempts to introduce new draft laws have further slowed progress.

Time is running out. Without decisive action, the diaspora vote could once again be delayed or abandoned altogether. The pressing question now is whether the new administration will act to guarantee the constitutional rights of Lebanese citizens abroad, and if so, how quickly it will move.