Skopje, 2 November 2025 (MIA) - On Sunday (November 2), the Office of the Ombudsman is launching a free phone line 0800-54321 from 7 am to 7 pm, during the second round of the 2025 local elections, where citizens can report any violation of their voting rights.

Apart from the phone line, citizens can report violations of their voting rights in person at the Ombudsman’s offices in Skopje, Bitola, Kichevo, Kumanovo, Strumica, Tetovo, and Shtip.

Free phone lines will also be available every working day from 8 am to 4 pm in the regional offices in Strumica (034)329-996, Kichevo (045)228-586, Tetovo (044)344-082, Bitola (047)242-310, Shtip (032)389-701, and Kumanovo (031)431-488.

The Ombudsman will protect citizens’ rights by implementing immediate measures to secure effective action by the relevant authorities during the electoral process and by other institutions obligated to protect their guaranteed rights.

The Ombudsman underlines that the right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed as equal, universal and direct, to be exercised in free elections by secret ballot, and that no individual may be held accountable for exercising this right. For this reason, violations of voters’ freedom of choice, as well as other infringements of voting rights, are criminal offenses. The Ombudsman calls on all participants in the electoral process to adhere to the health protocols defined for the voting process.

Photo: MIA archive