Elections in Macedonia

The State Election Commission (SEC) supervises elections in North Macedonia, maintains the Voters’ Register, reviews candidate lists, publishes results and decides many election complaints. Municipal Election Commissions and the City of Skopje Election Commission organize elections locally, while Election Boards conduct voting and counting at polling stations. The Administrative Court reviews appeals against relevant SEC decisions. Accredited citizen, international and party observers may monitor the process. The President is elected directly for a five-year term and may serve no more than two terms. A candidate needs more than half of all registered voters in the first round. If no candidate reaches that level, the two leading candidates usually compete in a second round after 14 days. The second round is invalid if turnout is below 40%, requiring a repeat election. The unicameral Assembly has 120 seats elected for four years. Voters cast a ballot for a closed party or coalition list in one of six in-country electoral units. The law also allows up to three seats for voters abroad, but this threshold has historically not been reached. Parties, coalitions and groups of voters may submit parliamentary candidates. A parliamentary list generally requires support from at least 1,000 voters in the relevant electoral unit. Local elections cover 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje. Mayors are elected through a majoritarian system. In the first round, a candidate needs more than half of the votes and turnout of at least one third of registered voters. If necessary, the second round is held after 14 days and the candidate with the most votes wins without a turnout threshold. Municipal councils are elected through proportional lists. Local candidates must generally have permanent residence in the relevant municipality. For the 2025 local elections, SEC rules used at least two supporting signatures and identification documents after a Constitutional Court decision repealed the previous one-percent signature rule. Candidate lists must include at least 40% of the less-represented gender, with at least one person of that gender in every group of three consecutive places. A voter must be a citizen aged at least 18 and usually have permanent residence in the relevant electoral unit, municipality or City of Skopje. A final court decision concerning legal incapacity or certain criminal convictions can exclude a person from the register. The SEC prepares the register using information from the Ministry of Interior, civil registries and courts. Public inspection normally begins 15 days after an election is called, and voters can inspect their information online or through designated offices. Citizens voting abroad in national elections must actively register. Voting is personal, free and secret. The assigned polling station accepts a valid biometric identity card or passport. The voter marks the ballot by circling the candidate or list number, name or logo, following the SEC’s blue-ink instruction. Family, group and proxy voting are not allowed, and voters may not photograph their ballot or bring weapons into the polling process. Assistance procedures exist for blind or visually impaired voters, people with disabilities or illness, homebound voters, people under house arrest, detainees and prisoners, residents of care homes and voters using diplomatic or consular offices. The official campaign period runs for 20 days before election day and ends 24 hours before voting. Campaigns may receive public funding and regulated donations, while foreign, state, religious, charitable and media donors are prohibited. Parties and candidates must submit financial reports subject to audit. State offices, equipment and vehicles may not be used for campaigning. Paid media advertising is regulated and reimbursed under state rules, although the allocation formula can disadvantage smaller contestants. After polling closes, each Election Board counts the ballots and sends its protocol to the relevant Municipal Election Commission or the City of Skopje Election Commission. The SEC then tabulates and publishes preliminary results, including results down to polling-station level where available. Candidate representatives and observers may receive protocols. The SEC publishes final results after the legal remedies are completed, normally no later than 24 hours after finality. Election-day and preliminary-result complaints generally have a 48-hour deadline; the SEC decides within 72 hours, and an appeal to the Administrative Court normally must be filed within 24 hours. The SEC may inspect ballot boxes or order a recount. After Assembly elections, the Assembly must be constituted within 20 days. The President gives a mandate within 10 days to the party or parties holding an Assembly majority. The nominee has 20 days to submit a government programme and cabinet, and the Assembly elects the Government by a majority of all members. Recent election monitoring has identified legal gaps, unequal campaign financing, misuse of public resources, allegations of voter pressure or vote buying, voter tracking, accessibility problems and occasional biometric-technology faults as practical risks.