Skopje, 24 April 2024 (MIA) – North Macedonia on Wednesday votes in the first round of the 2024 presidential elections. A total of 1,814,317 people are eligible to vote for seven candidates, including Stevo Pendarovski, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, Stevcho Jakimovski, Bujar Osmani, Biljana Vankovska, Arben Taravari and Maksim Dimitrievski. The candidate who will win the majority of votes out of the total number of voters - 907,159 votes – will be declared the winner in the elections. 

If no candidate wins the required majority in the first round, the two candidates who will win the most votes in the first round are set to qualify to vie in the second round. 

The second round is to take place on May 8 – 14 days after the first round. The candidate who will win the majority of votes will be elected president only if a turnout of 40% is registered – 725,727 voters – according to the Electoral Code, and if 362,864 voters cast votes in favor of that candidate. 

If the two front-runners fail to secure the required number of votes in the second round, the vote will be repeated. 

The country holds general and direct elections to elect a head of state for a five-year term. A president may serve only two terms, according to the Constitution. 

Photo: MIA