Skopje, 16 February 2024 (MIA) - The State Election Commission (SEC) in cooperation with the Media Information Agency (MIA) held a workshop on Friday presenting information on electoral plans for the upcoming 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The first round of presidential elections will be held on April 24, and the second on May 8 along with the parliamentary elections. Election campaign for the presidential elections will begin on April 4 and finish on April 22. For the parliamentary elections, the campaign will begin on April 18, and end on May 6. The two campaigns overlap for a certain period of time, while the presidential elections campaign will be held April 23, the day of silence during the presidential elections, through April 24 the day of the presidential elections. This, SEC notes, is a unique situation. Presidential candidates will be able to appear at party rallies of their supporters during the parliamentary campaign, but will not be allowed to give speeches.

On the day of voting for the parliamentary elections, May 8, the second round of presidential elections will be held. SEC cannot yet announce a software solution for voter identification with biometric identification devices because there will be two types of voting, for a president and MPs. Furthermore, a census is needed to determine voter turnout for both elections, and other data related data.

Voters will be able to exercise their right to vote only with valid personal documents, that is, IDs and travel documents.

According to SEC, the number of electoral roll in the elections will be different. Inspection of the electoral list for both elections begins on February 28, and ends midnight on March 18. The closing of the electoral roll for both election processes is on April 2, while the signing of the closed electoral roll for presidential elections is on April 8, and April 22 for parliamentary elections. The electoral roll will also include individuals who will become of age in the period between April 8-22, as well as an updated list based on deceased persons and others.

As of February 14, the country’s nationals can register online at https://dijaspora.sec.mk/ or by filling a form at North Macedonia’s diplomatic-consular offices in their countries of residence.

Registration will remain open until March 18. Voting in the diaspora will be organized for both elections if about 5,300 of our citizens register to vote. ssh/sk/