General elections were held in
Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...
on 28 November 2010, having originally been scheduled for 28 February. Ten
senators and all 99
deputies were to be elected.
Presidential elections were also held. A run-off was originally scheduled for 16 January as no candidate received 50% of the votes cast. However, it was postponed until 20 March 2011 as election officials said they could not hold the runoff while awaiting results from re-polling,
with results expected on 31 March.
Official results, announced on 21 April 2011, showed
Michel Martelly
Michel Joseph Martelly (; born 12 February 1961) is a Haitian musician and politician who served as the 42nd president of Haiti from May 2011 until February 2016. On August 20, 2024, the United States sanctioned the former president for traffic ...
defeating
Mirlande Manigat
Mirlande Manigat (born Mirlande Hyppolite in Miragoâne, on November 3, 1940) is a Haitian constitutional law professor and candidate in 2010-11 Haitian general election. She is the widow of former president Leslie Manigat and briefly served as Fir ...
in the second round of the presidential election.
Background
Due to the
January 2010 earthquake,
Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...
an presidential election was indefinitely postponed; although November 28 was then decided as the date to hold the
presidential and
legislative
A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers ...
election
An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative d ...
s. Following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, there were concerns of instability in the country, and the election came amid international pressure over instability in the country.
This would be the third democratic election in Haitian history.
Presidential candidates
The deadline to file candidacy for the elections was August 7.
The list of presidential candidates was to have become official on August 17 after the nine-member provisional electoral council was to announce the eligibility criteria.
However, the election commission postponed its ruling until August 19 because of disagreement on the electoral law which stipulates that candidates must hold a Haitian passport and have five consecutive years of residence in Haiti, among other requirements. This was to affect
Wyclef Jean
Nel Ust Wyclef Jean ( ; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, singer, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the Northeastern United States, United States as a child. He gained fame as a founding member of the Fugees, a Ne ...
,
Jacques Edouard Alexis, and
Leslie Voltaire
Leslie Voltaire (born 11 July 1949) is a Haitian politician and architect who served as the president of the Transitional Presidential Council from October 2024 to March 2025. He previously served in the administrations of Jean-Bertrand Aristide ...
.
The absence of the
Fanmi Lavalas
Fanmi Lavalas (; ''lavalas'' is Haitian Creole for 'avalanche' or 'flood'
) is a social-democratic political party in Haiti. Its leader is former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has been a powerful force in Haitian politics since 199 ...
(FL) party was notable because of its popular support.
Peter Hallward explained: "The final FL list of candidates was endorsed by the party leader (
Jean Bertrand Aristide) by fax, but at the last minute the CEP invented a new requirement, knowing FL would be unable to meet it: Aristide, still exiled in South Africa and denied entry to Haiti, would have to sign the list in person."
Wyclef Jean
Musician
Wyclef Jean
Nel Ust Wyclef Jean ( ; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, singer, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the Northeastern United States, United States as a child. He gained fame as a founding member of the Fugees, a Ne ...
, who left Haiti for the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
at the age of 9, said he is qualified to run for president and was in Haiti to initiate the legal process with lawyers and have his fingerprints taken by the judicial police to run for president. He did, however, declare that "There are a lot of rumors that I am running for president. I have not declared that. If we decide to move forward, I am pretty sure that we
ould Ould is an English surname as well as an element of many Arabic names. In Arabic contexts it is a transliteration of the word wikt:ولد, ولد, meaning "son".
Notable people with this surname include:
English surname
* Edward Ould (1852–190 ...
have all our paperwork straight." He added that after discussions with his family he would "decide on what we're going to do because it is a big sacrifice." His aides said he would officially announce his candidacy on
CNN
Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
in the United States before flying back to Haiti to enter the race. Some analysts predicted Jean's popularity with the youth of Haiti could help him "easily win the presidential election if his candidacy were approved." On 5 August, he officially registered as a candidate for
Viv Ansanm ("Live Together") party with the motto "''Fas a Fas''." ("Face to Face") The head of the party,
Daniel Jean Jacques, confirmed Jean would be the party's candidate for president. Jean spoke of his nomination as "a moment in time and in history. It's very emotional. The United States has Barack Obama and Haiti has Wyclef Jean." He told
CNN
Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
's
Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Isaac Blitzer (born March 22, 1948) is an American journalist, television news anchor, and author who has been a CNN reporter since 1990, and who currently serves as one of the principal anchors at the network. He has been a host of ''The ...
that he was running, despite Blitzer's questions about Jean's actual citizenship and passport facts. He also resigned from the chairmanship of ''
Yéle Haiti''.
He was criticised by
Pras Michel, one of his former bandmates in the
Fugees
The Fugees () are an American hip hop group formed in South Orange, New Jersey, in 1990. The trio of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill was known for their fusion of hip hop, reggae, R&B, and funk; their socially conscious lyrics; and ...
, for the decision to run for president.
Others criticised him for his lack of political experience and a vague platform he was to have run on. In the United States he was also criticised by
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is known for his intense leading man roles in film. List of awards and nominations received by Sean Penn, His accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Gl ...
and
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, and Jeremy Gara. The band's touring line-up includes former core ...
's
Win Butler
Edwin Farnham Butler III (born April 14, 1980) is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. He co-founded the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire with Josh Deu and his wife Régine Chassagne.
Early l ...
who said "Technically,
yclef Jeanshouldn't be eligible because he hasn't been a resident of Haiti. And I think him not speaking French and not being fluent in
Creole would be a really major issue in trying to run a really complex government, like the government in Haiti. It would kind of be like
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...
only speaking
Austrian and being elected president of the United States after
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and
L.A. had burned to the ground...I think he is a great musician and he really passionately cares about Haiti. I really hope he throws his support behind someone who is really competent and really eligible."
On August 20, 2010, he was deemed ineligible to run for the presidency and his candidacy was rejected by Haiti's Electoral Council. While he accepted the ruling, many supporters protested the decision. He asked his supporters to stay calm in the wake of the ruling. He also responded in saying he would file an appeal and that "
he political establishmentare trying to keep us out of the race." He argued that he could not comply with the law so strictly because President René Préval had appointed him as a roving ambassador in 2007 and he was allowed to travel and live outside the country.
Final list of candidates
There were supposed to have been 34 candidates in the preliminary race but a Haitian political website came up with 38.
*
Charles Henri Baker, a businessman in the apparel industry. Charles Henri Baker is running under the
Respè Party.
*
Jean Henry Ceant, a notaire and founder of Aimer Haiti which operated one of the few hospitals after the January 12 quake.
*
Jacques-Édouard Alexis, a two-time former prime minister
who was forced to resign in the aftermath of food riots in 2008.
*
Jude Célestin, executive director of the government's road-building outfit, the National Center of Equipment, and member of President René Préval's Unity (Inite) party.
*Eddy Delaleu, president, founder, and chief executive officer of the NGO ''Operation Hope for Children of Haiti'' since its inception in 1994.
*Lavarice Gaudin, an Aristide ally and Miami activist and radio commentator.
*
Wilson Jeudi, mayor of Delmas who organized a sister-city relationship with North Miami.
*
Chavannes Jeune, development agent, civil engineer and evangelist who came in 3rd place in 2006 election.
*
Raymond Joseph, former ambassador to the United States and Wyclef Jean's uncle.
*
Mirlande Manigat
Mirlande Manigat (born Mirlande Hyppolite in Miragoâne, on November 3, 1940) is a Haitian constitutional law professor and candidate in 2010-11 Haitian general election. She is the widow of former president Leslie Manigat and briefly served as Fir ...
, a longtime opposition leader, professor, and former
first lady.
*
Michel Martelly
Michel Joseph Martelly (; born 12 February 1961) is a Haitian musician and politician who served as the 42nd president of Haiti from May 2011 until February 2016. On August 20, 2024, the United States sanctioned the former president for traffic ...
, a compas musician and entertainer whose lyrics have poked fun at the concept of the Haitian presidency.
*
Yvon Neptune, an architect and ex-senator who served as prime minister under former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
*
Leslie Voltaire
Leslie Voltaire (born 11 July 1949) is a Haitian politician and architect who served as the president of the Transitional Presidential Council from October 2024 to March 2025. He previously served in the administrations of Jean-Bertrand Aristide ...
, a US-educated urban planner, former minister,
and government liaison to the United Nations.
Other candidates included Axan Abellard,
Charles Voigt, Claire Lydie Parent,
Déjean Bélizaire, Duroseau Vilaire Cluny, Eric Charles, Francois Turnier, Garaudy Laguerre, Gary Guiteau, Genard Joseph, Gerard Blot, Guy Theodore, Jacques Philippe Eugene,
Jean Bertin, Jean Hector Anacacis, Josette Bijou, Kesnel Dalmacy, Leon Jeune, Mario Eddy Rodriguez, Menelas Vilsaint, Olicier Pieriche, Rene Saint-Fort, Wilkens C. Gilles,
Yves Cristalin, and Paul Arthur Fleurival.
Campaign
President René Préval told the UN, "It is important that we take this difficult process to a conclusion, with rigour, equality, and transparency, essential conditions for consolidating our young democracy. I therefore call on all the national stakeholders and our overseas friends so we can successfully cross this electoral crossroads together."
Two issues for candidates to answer were considered rebuilding from the earthquake earlier in the year and an
outbreak of cholera less than two months before the election, which was blamed on the United Nations by many Haitians.
Independent research confirmed the origin of the cholera outbreak as being linked to UN Nepalese troops, and a 2011 UN Report admitted as much. The UN alleged that the outbreak was used for "political reasons because of forthcoming elections," as the government in Haiti sent its own forces to "protect" the peacekeepers.
The election was termed in the media as a "seismic" one.
Opinion polls
2 October 2010:
* Mirlande Manigat (
Rally of Progressive National Democrats): 23.0%
* Charles-Henri Baker (
Respect
Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or deferential action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. It is also th ...
): 17.3%
* Jude Célestin (
Unity): 7.8%
14 November 2010:
* Charles-Henri Baker (
Respect
Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or deferential action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. It is also th ...
): 24.38%
* Mirlande Manigat (
Rally of Progressive National Democrats): 17.58%
* Jeune Léon (
Rally for Economic Liberation): 14.51%
* Michel Martelly (
Peasant Response): 14.10%
6–10 February 2011 (runoff):
* Michel Martelly (
Peasant Response): 60.3%
* Mirlande Manigat (
Rally of Progressive National Democrats): 38.9%
Conduct
On the day of the first round of voting, Martelly and Manigat, as well as most other candidates, denounced the results as invalid by noon, before voting had even concluded. A notable exception to this denunciation was Jude Celestin.
Following demonstration and demands by the opposition to hold elections amid a parliamentary call that he can stay beyond his 7 February mandate, President
René Préval
René Garcia Préval (; 17 January 1943 – 3 March 2017)
was a Haitian Politics of Haiti, politician and agronomist who twice was President of Haiti, from early 1996 to early 2001, and again from mid-2006 to mid-2011. He was also List of Prime ...
issued decrees ordering the country's nine-member provisional electoral council to organise the election. However he still did not address calls for the council itself to be replaced before a vote is held.
Despite the constitutional legitimacy and impartiality of the
CEP having been challenged.
Some questioned whether Haiti was ready to hold an election following the earthquake that left more than a million people in makeshift camps and without IDs. There was also a fear that the election could throw the country into a political crisis due to a lack of transparency and voting fraud.
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
had also pressured Haiti to hold elections as stipulated in its
constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
When these pri ...
. It wanted a firm commitment to holding elections by the end of the year as domestic opposition grew to incumbent President René Préval's response to the earthquake.
Due to the elections and allegedly accepted instability, Haitian security services were given special training by foreign forces.
The
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
voted to extend
MINUSTAH
The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (), also known as MINUSTAH, an acronym of its French name, was a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti from 2004 to 2017. It was composed of 2,366 military personnel and 2,533 police, supported by int ...
's mandate amid fears of instability. This was greeted with protesters in
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince ( ; ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Haiti, most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 1,200,000 in 2022 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The me ...
carrying banners reading "Down with the occupation," and burning the
flag of Brazil
The national flag of Brazil is a blue disc depicting a starry sky (which includes the Crux, Southern Cross) spanned by a curved band inscribed with the List of national mottos, national motto ('Order and Progress'), within a yellow rhombus, on ...
, as they had the largest contingent in MINUSTAH. Despite months of relative calm after the earthquake, this represented a "chorus of opposition to René Préval, Haiti's president, and to UN forces."
Due to the cholera outbreak, there were fears that the election could be postponed. However, the head of MINUSTAH,
Edmond Mulet, said that it should not be delayed as that could lead to a political vacuum with untold potential problems.
After a visit by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Manigat and Martelly agreed to accept the results of the first round of voting.
During the first round of voting, two people were killed in a firefight between rival parties' supporters in
Aquin
Aquin (; ) is a commune in the Aquin Arrondissement, in the Sud department of Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahama ...
, with several injured in violence across the country.
Post-1st round
There were calls for Martelly to be included in the run-off; however, he has stated that he would not take part if Célestin is also a candidate in the run-off. A recount was announced on 10 December. However, both Manigat and Martelly then rejected the proposed recount, with only Célestin accepting it. Manigat and Martelly also criticised the lack of clear procedures or a timetable.
Following a deal reached in late December 2010 to look into the vote counting process and have re-polling in certain constituencies, the run-off was postponed until at least February 2011. Pierre-Louis Opont, the director general of the Provisional Electoral Council said: "It will be materially impossible to hold the run-off on January 16. From the date of the publication of the final results of the first round, we will need at least one month to hold the run-off." He also said that a report by the
Organisation of American States
The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...
and a completion of review for the results that had been challenged would be needed first.
The OAS report proposed that Manigat and Martelly advance to the run-off, dropping Célestin from the second round. However, the Provisional Electoral Council rejected that suggestion on 19 January 2011. Additionally, some analyses showed that the OAS report was statistically flawed and made the recommendation to eliminate Célestin with no apparent justification. In a January 2011 report, the
Center for Economic and Policy Research
The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is an American think tank that specializes in economic policy. Based in Washington, D.C. CEPR was co-founded by economists Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot in 1999.
Considered a left-leaning orga ...
concluded that 71.5% of the eligible Haitian population did not vote during the first round of the election on November 28, 2010.
[Haiti's Fatally Flawed Election](_blank)
CEPR, January 1, 2011 Furthermore, from the remaining votes 8.1% were considered to be invalid, leaving only 20.1% of the votes being cast on one of the candidates in the election. The high rate of irregular votes led the CEPR to conclude that no statistics-based, non-arbitrary selection of a second-place candidate was possible.
In a later August 2011 report, the CEPR further concluded that the data actually contradicted the OAS recommendation to overturn the initial vote counts and select Martelly as the second-place candidate, and that this move was not in line with normal international election resolution processes, suggesting a bias on the part of the OAS.
Célestin was reportedly likely to drop out of the run-off by himself, however, as stated by a member of his party on 25 January 2011, partially as a result of international pressure.
The official withdrawal statement came on 26 January 2011.
Baby Doc returned to Haiti on 16 January 2011 in what was seen as possibly more uncertainty.
Corruption and theft charges were then filed against him.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned in March amidst concern for stability by both the runoff candidates. The rumour of his return led to several thousand of his supporters in
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince ( ; ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Haiti, most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 1,200,000 in 2022 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The me ...
demanding that without Aristide there should not be a second round election. The protest even reached as far as Miami, where approximately 60 protesters gathered in front of the offices of ''
The Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe countie ...
''. Questions were then asked about the effect the former presidents could have on the political process.
Campaigning for the second round of the presidential election officially commenced on Thursday, 17 February. While
Mirlande Manigat
Mirlande Manigat (born Mirlande Hyppolite in Miragoâne, on November 3, 1940) is a Haitian constitutional law professor and candidate in 2010-11 Haitian general election. She is the widow of former president Leslie Manigat and briefly served as Fir ...
discussed her future plans for Haiti in a hotel with reporters, Martelly took to the streets of
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien (; ; "Haitian Cape") is a List of communes of Haiti, commune of about 400,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Departments of Haiti, department of Nord (Haitian department), Nord. Previously named ''Cap‑Fran� ...
, the second largest city in Haiti, where he and his followers danced and sang in the streets. Martelly even went as far as to campaign in
Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
in the
United States of America
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...
, which is home to a large number of Haitian
expatriate
An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country.
The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
s.
On 17 February, Wyclef Jean announced his support for Martelly in the second round of the presidential election. Wyclef Jean was also shot at and grazed by a bullet the day before the second round vote during campaigning for Martelly. He was wounded and taken to a hospital.
During voting for the second round some polling stations failed to open on time as they lacked the necessary equipment and documents.
President
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
of the US asked the
government of South Africa
The Government of South Africa, or South African Government, is the national government of the Republic of South Africa, a parliamentary republic with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a parliamentary ...
to delay former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's attempt to return to Haiti, however, the request was rejected by Aristide himself.
Results
President
The result for the first round presidential poll was announced on 3 February 2011, with the run-off set for 20 March
between Manigat and Martelly.
Chamber of Deputies
Senate
Fraud allegations
Despite the Provisional Election Council sanctioning the election, protests continued the next day. Almost two-thirds of the candidates also called for the election to be annulled alleging fraud and many voters being refused ballots.
Despite this, international election monitors declared the polls valid and said the results should not be invalidated.
This opinion was not shared by the
OAS and the
CARICOM who, after a preliminary report, said that there many problems surrounding the election.
Following further protests by several candidates, the UN called for calm and urged candidates to call on their supporters not to instigate trouble. It also said that a deteriorating security situation could undermine containment of the cholera epidemic.
CBC News
CBC News is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on the corporation's English-language operations, namely CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, and CBC ...
reporters also said that there was "massive fraud".
[Haiti Election Massive Fraud](_blank)
CBC World News, November 28, 2010 Port-au-Prince had four consecutive days of protests.
[Protests over Haiti poll turn violent](_blank)
The Real News (TRNN), December 3, 2010 (video 2:28)
References
External links
Haiti's 2010 Presidential Election ResultsGraphic from
Haiti's Fatally Flawed Election' by Jake Johnston and Mark Weisbrot. pdf file.
The Entire Debate Between Martelly And Manigat - Live In Video ''Haiti Observer'', March 10, 2011
The Organization of American States in Haiti: Election Monitoring or Political Intervention? from the
Center for Economic and Policy Research
The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is an American think tank that specializes in economic policy. Based in Washington, D.C. CEPR was co-founded by economists Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot in 1999.
Considered a left-leaning orga ...
, October 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:2010-11 Haitian general election
Elections in Haiti
2010 in Haiti
2011 in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...
Haiti
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...
Presidential elections in Haiti
Foreign electoral intervention
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results