site.btaTurnout Tops 31% by Mid-Afternoon in North Macedonia’s Local Elections

Voter turnout in the Republic of North Macedonia’s local elections reached 31.16% by 3 pm local time (4 pm in Bulgaria), the State Election Commission said on Sunday. The figure is based on returns from 91.16% of polling stations, with 515,069 ballots cast.

Turnout was highest in Chaska (53.19%), followed by Novaci (52.84%), Makedonski Brod (48.21%), Krusevo (47.47%) and Berovo (40.14%). The lowest figures were reported in Vrapchishte (14.94%), Centar Zupa (17.12%), and Mavrovo and Rostusha (20.14%).

In Skopje, turnout stood at 31.16%. As of 3 pm, the highest turnout in the capital was in Cair (35.30%), followed by Centar (34.40%) and Karpos (33.37%).

Election day is proceeding without major incidents. The Ministry of the Interior said two people were arrested in Prilep on suspicion of bribery in elections and voting, and that an investigation is under way.

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia appealed to the State Election Commission, municipal election commissions and the Ministry of the Interior to ensure unhindered access for journalists and media staff to all polling stations, after a media crew was not allowed to carry out its duties at a station in Karpos. Similar signals were received from Ohrid and Tetovo.

Voting at North Macedonia’s 3,474 polling stations began at 7:00 am (8:00 am in Bulgaria) and continues until 7:00 pm (8:00 pm in Bulgaria). Balloting is secret and biometric identification devices are used to verify voters.

Twenty-two parties, 19 coalitions and 119 independent candidates are contesting the elections. There are 309 mayoral candidates across the 80 municipalities and Skopje, and 576 party lists for municipal councillors with a total of 10,490 candidates.

Sunday’s local elections are the eighth since the country declared independence.