Elections 2025

Local Elections 2025

The local elections in the Republic of North Macedonia represent the foundation of local democracy, enabling citizens to directly elect their representatives in the bodies of local self-government.

In accordance with the Electoral Code, regular local elections are held every four years. The next regular local elections will take place on 19 October 2025.

  • The first round of elections will be held on Sunday, 19 October.
  • The second round will be held 14 days after the first, i.e., on 2 November. A second round is conducted in municipalities where no mayoral candidate wins in the first round.

Every citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia who is 18 years of age and is registered in the Voters’ List has the right to vote. According to the latest official data from the State Election Commission for the 2024 parliamentary elections, the total number of registered voters in the Voters’ List was 1,815,350. This number will be updated prior to the 2025 elections. Citizens can and should check the Voters’ List before the elections through the website of the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure that their personal data is accurate and that they are registered to vote.

In these elections, citizens vote for:

  • The Mayor of their municipality.
  • Members of the Municipal Council. Council members are elected through a proportional model, where citizens vote for candidate lists proposed by political parties, coalitions, or groups of voters, and the mandates are allocated in accordance with the votes won.
  • Specific case for the City of Skopje: Citizens of the municipalities within the City of Skopje (Aerodrom, Butel, Gazi Baba, Gjorche Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, Centar, Chair, and Shuto Orizari) vote at two levels: once for the mayor and council of their municipality, and once for the mayor and members of the Council of the City of Skopje.

The Importance of Local Elections

Local elections hold fundamental significance, as decisions adopted at the local level directly influence the quality of citizens’ everyday lives. The Municipal Council serves as the body responsible for decision-making, adoption of the municipal budget, and approval of urban development plans, while the Mayor performs the executive function and bears responsibility for the implementation of such decisions.Collectively, these institutions are entrusted with a broad spectrum of competences, including but not limited to:

  • Urban planning: determining the scope and location of construction activities, as well as safeguarding green areas and public spaces.
  • Public utility services: organization of waste collection, water supply, maintenance of public hygiene, and management of cemeteries.
  • Local infrastructure: construction, paving, and maintenance of streets, provision of public lighting, and development of parks and playgrounds.
  • Education and childcare: administration and upkeep of primary and secondary schools, alongside management of childcare institutions.
  • Culture and sports: financial support for cultural events, libraries, and local sports associations and facilities.
  • Environmental protection: implementation of measures aimed at reducing local pollution and preserving natural resources.

Through their vote in local elections, citizens hold the power to elect leadership that is best positioned to address the specific needs and challenges of their community.