Municipal Elections, 15 October and 29 October 2017

Following an official invitation from the authorities, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 15 October municipal elections.  

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Mission to Skopje operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover, consists of 16 international experts based in Skopje. In addition, 20 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 18 September.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate and voter registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

Election day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested 300 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 15 October elections. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

International Election Observation Mission press conference, Skopje, 16 October 2017

OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission press conference, Skopje, 30 October 2017

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed 16 elections in the country, most recently the 11 December 2016 early parliamentary elections.