Skopje, 10 January 2026 (MIA) - The sick, infirm, and inmates from the municipalities of Gostivar, Mavrovo Rostushe, Vrapchishte, and Centar Zhupa will cast their ballot on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s repeat mayoral elections in the four municipalities where the turnout threshold wasn’t reached during the October local elections.

According to MIA's information, 146 infirm voters are registered in Gostivar as well as 81 inmates, 69 in Mavrovo Rostushe and two inames, 32 in Vrapchishte and 11 inmates, and only two infirm voters in Centar Zhupa.

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.

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

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.

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.

MIA file photo