Skopje, 20 October 2025 (MIA) – Voter turnout in the 2025 local elections, according to the State Election Commission (SEC) preliminary results, will not exceed 50% in the first round for the first time. The turnout in the first round of the eighth local elections since the country's independence, which were held on Sunday, will likely be the lowest ever, at 48.29%, with 99.94% of the votes processed providing data from 3,472 out of a total of 3,474 polling stations.

The highest turnout in the first round of mayoral elections in the country was recorded in the 2013 local elections - 67%, after which it has been steadily declining, to 60% percent in the 2017 local elections and 50.57% in the 2021 local elections.

The turnout in the second round of local elections is generally always lower, compared to the first round.

In the first round of the 2025 local elections, the required turnout of over one third of registered voters was not achieved in three municipalities - Centar Zhupa, Mavrovo and Rostushe, and Vrapchishte.

The first local elections since the country's independence were held on November 17, 1996, with councillors and mayors elected in 123 municipalities and the City of Skopje. There were a total of 683 mayor candidates and 747 lists of candidates for council members. Voter turnout in the first round was 60%, and in the second round it stood at 51%. There were a total of 1,419,081 registered voters in 1996.

The second local elections were held on September 10, 2000, with councillors and mayors elected in 123 municipalities and the City of Skopje. There were 323 mayor candidates and 564 lists of candidates for council members. A total of 1,634,859 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. The turnout in the first round was 59%, and in the second round it stood at 53%.

The third local elections were held on March 13 and 27, 2005, with councillors and mayors elected in 84 municipalities and the City of Skopje. These were the first local elections after the new territorial distribution and reduction in the number of municipalities. There were 379 mayor candidates and 445 lists of candidates for council members. A total of 1,711,293 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. Voter turnout in the first round was 56.36%, and in the second round, on March 27, it stood at 53.66%.

It is important to note that the State Election Commission did not exist as a separate body until 2006, but was set up before each election, and no full results or a final report for any of the first three local elections in the country were published.

The fourth local elections were held on March 22, 2009, with councillors and mayors elected in 84 municipalities and the City of Skopje. There were 364 mayor candidates and 702 lists of candidates for council members. A total of 1,792,082 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. Voter turnout in the first round was 57%, and in the second round it stood at 43%.

The fifth local elections were held on March 24, 2013, with councillors and mayors elected in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje. There were 350 mayor candidates and 480 lists of candidates for council members. A total of 1,743,403 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. Voter turnout in the first round was 67%, and in the second round it stood at 65%.

The sixth local elections were held on October 15, 2017, with councillors and mayors elected in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje. There were 257 mayor candidates and 371 lists of candidates for council members. A total of 1,814,644 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. Voter turnout in the first round was 60%, and in the second round it stood at 52%.  

The seventh local elections were held on October 17 and 31, 2021. A total of 1,824,864 voters were eligible to vote in these elections. Voter turnout in the first round was 50.57%, and in the second round it stood at 50.69%. There were 299 mayor candidates. In gender terms, in the 2021 local elections 91.64% of the mayor candidates were men, while 8.36% percent were women. Regarding the lists of candidates for council members, the number stood at 572, with a total of 10,532 candidates, of whom 55% were men, while 45% were women.   

The 2025 local elections are the fourth since the local self-government has been organized in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje. They included 309 mayor candidates, or 10 more compared to the 2021 vote, but way down from the record 683 candidates at the inaugural local elections in 1996. 

Photo: MIA archive