Geraldina Priftaj’s path from student to engaged citizen is filled with anticipation and excitement. Fresh out of "Qemal Stafa" High School in Tirana, Geraldina is looking forward to starting her journey to become a journalist. At 18, she stands ready for a rite of passage: casting her first vote in the upcoming local elections. This year, she embraced a new experience as part of the first-time voter programme, within the Council of Europe project Strengthening Elections’ Integrity in Albania, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. Designed to help young voters like her navigate their first election, the programme did more than pass on knowledge:  it opened doors to empowerment, equipping new voters with the confidence and understanding to choose the best candidates and take the decisions that will shape their future.

For Geraldina, the programme’s activities left a lasting mark, not just on her understanding of democratic participation and civic engagement, but on her sense of responsibility. “During the initial meetings held at my school, I did not expect the programme to have such an impact on me. Yet the programme did change my approach, and likewise the views of other students concerning the electoral process", Geraldina shared. Step by step, students like her learned about the mechanisms and meaning of voting, how candidates build their platforms, how to judge their promises, and how to think critically about choices. Geraldina noticed how her peers tended to overlook politics, choosing candidates favoured by their families without the need to delve further. But the project sparked curiosity and conversations, inspiring students to discuss, question, and understand. “Unlike before, our social discussions are now also political, and I strive to share my newly acquired insights with my peers, both in casual or informal conversations and in structured debates at school," she explains.

The programme turned the classroom into a lively laboratory of democracy. Voting brought the full electoral process to life, from beginning to end: each student played a part, from commissioners and observers to journalists, with real ballot boxes provided by the Central Election Commission. “Everything functioned as in an actual polling station, where each person meticulously fulfilled the assigned tasks," Geraldina noted, highlighting that the electoral simulation (mock elections) was as realistic as possible. “Now for the upcoming elections, I know very well what I need to do and what awaits me...” she says, smiling.

Rozvana Nano, a teacher who closely followed this programme since its inception, watched the students flourish: they moved from simple interest to lively debates digging deeper into electoral integrity, secrecy of the ballot, and critical analysis of political platforms. "Voting without a sound theoretical and practical basis risks becoming a mechanical process. Therefore, education prior to the first vote provides young people with the necessary tools to develop critical thinking, to understand the importance of free elections, and to become observers of the integrity of the electoral process in their communities," Nano remarked.

The Central Election Commission’s support was crucial, not only providing resources but helping bringing democracy into classrooms: authentic elements of the electoral process brought students' experience closer to a genuine voting process. Erton Sinani, Cabinet Director, believes these lessons plant seeds for lifelong civic engagement: "For the CEC, electoral education is not a one-off activity, limited only to the election period, but a long-term investment for creating a democratic culture. Students did not only experience elections as a theoretical concept, but as a practical process where everyone is important for guaranteeing a transparent and reliable process. The participation of first-time voters in the national elections of 2025 marked an increase of 3.34%, compared to the previous cycle. This moderate increase shows that the rise in participation is not simply connected to a larger base of young voters, but mainly with their greater willingness to take part in the electoral process."

The programme’s reach went far, spanning 335 schools and involving more than 20,000 students and 2,000 teachers, with the Academy of Political Studies leading the local implementation. "Our survey with teachers and students involved in the programme once again demonstrated that the school was the main source of information for them about the electoral process. This is another confirmation of the programme's objective to include electoral education as part of the formal school curricula in Albania, starting from the 9-year cycle. We must utilise basic formats of civic education to reach every student and further, even their families, but in an innovative manner," said Erjon Tase, Executive Director, underlining the programme’s lasting impact.

Strengthening Elections’ Integrity in Albania" is about more than voting. It nurtures young voters’ education and their voices, encouraging civic participation and boosting sustainability through electoral education curricula, including information programmes for new voters and their participation in elections. It strengthens electoral education and relevant curricula and promotes youth participation. It is based on the recommendations of the Council of Europe, including the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR. In line with recommendations, the programme brings education to life, helping future voters grow into tomorrow’s changemakers.

This journey showed the power of investing in youth civic education. By equipping students to analyse, debate and make informed choices, the Council of Europe is fostering a generation not only ready to vote but to take an active and leading role in Albania’s democratic life. The Council of Europe aims at creating sustainable, long-lasting benefits, going beyond classrooms and laying the foundation for the society as a whole. Youth engagement in elections is far more than a civic duty. It is an opportunity to amplify the voices and dreams of the new generation for future of Albania