Skopje, 29 September 2025 (MIA) – Monday marks the start of the 20-day campaign ahead of the October 19 local elections. The parties and coalitions are kicking off official election-related activities.

The election campaign kicked off at midnight and ends on October 17 at midnight before a 24-hour election silence starts on the eve of the October 19 elections. The second round of this year’s local elections takes place on November 2.

According to the Electoral Code, Article 69a, “an election campaign is considered a public gathering and other public events organized by a participant in the election campaign, public display of posters, video presentations in public places, election media and online presentation, distribution of printed materials and public presentation of candidates confirmed by the competent election authorities and their programs.”

The 2025 local elections are the eighth elections since the country declared independence in 1991 and fourth elections for mayors and councillors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje.

309 mayoral candidates and 576 list of candidates for members of municipal councils – a total of 10,490 candidates – will be vying in the elections. Votes will be cast in 3,480 polling stations.

22 parties, 19 coalitions and 119 independent candidates will participate. A total of 16 candidates run for Skopje mayor.

There are a total of 1,832,415 voters registered in the voters list ahead of the October local elections. Of those, 1,717,803 voters are registered in the extracts of the voters list.

According to the register of the authorities, a total of 112,000 expatriates, 2,162 inmates or detainees and 450 nursing home residents are eligible to vote in next month’s elections, Kondarko told today’s SEC session. 

3,480 polling stations are registered in the country, including 132 with less than ten voters. They will be enabled to cast their votes in the nearest polling station. 

According to the Electoral Code, local elections are held every four years in the second half of October.

The local self-government is organized in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje, being a separate local self-government unit. The City of Skopje includes 10 municipalities.

Local elections in the country were held in 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Photo: MIA