Skopje, 19 October 2021 (MIA) – Low voter turnout in the first round of the 2021 local elections, the lowest since the declaration of independence, has dwindled the votes of political parties compared to the 2017 local elections, show data of the State Election Commission (SEC). According to the SEC’s website, turnout in Sunday’s election was 48.99%. Commission President Aleksandar Dashtevski said the percentage could be changed because figures are still being sent by municipal election committees. Despite even a slight change, voter turnout will remain historically low, less than the minimum of 56% recorded in the 2005 local elections. Data on the number of votes won in municipal councils, posted on the SEC website for the 2021 local elections, show that VMRO-DPMNE won the most votes – 285,525. SDSM won 239,214 votes, followed by DUI – 103,805; Alliance for Albanians/Alternativa – 55,540; Levica – 50,181; Besa – 25,426, and LDP/DOM – 24,850. VMRO-DPMNE in Sunday’s elections recorded a drop of nearly 50,000 votes compared to 2017, when the now-opposition party won 335,769 votes. The ruling party SDSM recorded a drop of over 180,000 votes. Besa also recorded a decrease in votes of 21,000. Compared to the previous elections, which took place in 2020 when voters elected members of Parliament, the SDSM-led coalition comprised of Besa and LDP/DPA secured 327,408 votes. In Sunday’s elections, these parties together won 289,490, a drop of 37,000 votes. VMRO-DPMNE also registered a decrease of nearly 27,000 votes, whose coalition in the 2020 elections won 315,344 votes. Slight drop compared to the parliamentary elections last year was also registered by DUI, but compared to the 2017 local elections, the junior coalition partner recorded a rise of 14,000 votes – from 89,724 votes in 2017 to 103,805 in 2021. Securing 50,181 votes in Sunday’s elections, Levica recorded an increase compared to the 2020 parliamentary elections, when 37,426 people voted for the left-wing party. The October 17 elections were the seventh elections for mayors since the country declared independence. The first were held in 1996. A total of 1,824,864 people were eligible to vote - the highest number in all local elections so far and an increase of 10,220 voters compared to the 2017 elections. The 2013 local elections recorded the highest voter turnout in the first round – 67%. The lowest of 56% was recorded in the 2005 local election. Also, highest turnout in the second round of local election was recorded in 2013 – 65%. The lowest turnout in a runoff was recorded in the 2009 local election.