Skopje, 11 August 2021 (MIA) – Ahead of this year’s local elections, slated for Oct. 17, voters are able to check their data in the electoral roll by visiting the State Electoral Commission’s site or going to izbirackispisok.gov.mk. Officially, the electoral roll will be open for the public as of Aug. 21 until Sept. 9. Until then, the State Election Commission (SEC) will update the electoral roll, which will be used on election day. During this time, voters should send a request to have their data included, removed or added in the electoral roll in a written form to regional SEC offices or to send an email to the Commission presenting proof. Before being signed on October 1, the electoral roll should be completed and updated ahead of the elections by September 24 after also being approved by the political parties. In a first, voters’ identity in the coming local elections will be checked through fingerprint scanners. On August 8, the Interior Ministry sent voters’ data, including fingerprints, to the Commission within 48 hours since the elections were scheduled, which is in line with the Electoral Code. Under the Electoral Code, Aug. 16 marks the start of collecting voters’ signatures for candidates to run in the local elections. It ends of Aug. 30. In the City of Skopje, an independent candidate should get at least 1,000 signatures out of all eligible voters registered for the territory of the capital.