Skopje, 11 January 2026 (MIA) - The citizens of the municipalities of Gostivar, Mavrovo Rostushe, Vrapchishte, and Centar Zhupa are voting for mayor in repeat elections held Sunday after the turnout threshold in these municipalities wasn’t met at the October local elections.

Sunday's vote will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.

Nevzat Bejta of Vlen and independent candidate Valbon Limani, supported by the National Alliance for Integration (NAI), are the mayoral candidates in Gostivar, Isen Shabani (NAI) and independent candidate Zelhajrat Demiri will face off in Vrapchishte, Arijan Ibraim of the Democratic Party of Turks is the only candidate in Centar Zhupa, while Oner Jakuposki of the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition and Anes Ahmeti of SDSM will compete in Mavrovo Rostushe.

In Sunday’s repeat elections 82.870 citizens have a right to cast their ballot in the Municipality of Gostivar; 27.279 in Vrapchishte; 10.575 in Mavrovo Rosutshe; and 7.562 in Centar Zhupa. 

According to the Electoral Code, a turnout of one-third of voters is not required for repeat elections, but in order to elect a mayor, more than half of the voters must vote for one of the candidates, including in Centar Zhupa, where there is only one candidate. 

No interest has been shown for monitoring of Sunday’s repeat elections, says the State Election Commission, adding not a single observer has registered so far.  

Mayoral elections are repeated in the four municipalities because turnout was low in October’s local elections.

According to State Election Commission data, less than a third of registered voters voted in the first round of the 2025 local elections. A turnout of at least 33.33% is required for elections to be considered successful.

Sick and infirm voters from these municipalities, as well as inmates, were able to cast their ballots on Saturday.

MIA file photo