Local elections are held this Sunday in Northern Macedonia for the seventh time since the country's independence. 

In the race for 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje are 299 candidates, while over 10,600 candidates for municipal councilors and the council of the City of Skopje. 

Skopje has the most candidates for mayor, respectively 12, while Struga and Dolneni have 8 candidates each. 24 are independent candidates. Of the mayoral candidates, only 25 are women. 

1,824,864 citizens have the right to vote. For the first time in Northern Macedonia, voting will be done with a fingerprint or devices that detect the papillary lines of the voters. The authorities emphasize that 400 IT experts have been engaged for the maintenance and care of the voting process and two "Call Centers" have been put into operation. 

During Saturday, 10,653 people had the right to vote, one day before the official voting. The trial took place in 13 prisons of an investigative and punitive nature. Sick citizens, the disabled, people affected by covid and those in isolation, as well as citizens in nursing homes, also exercised their right to vote a day ago. 

The election process will be monitored by 1,247 observers. Of them 870 locals and 367 foreigners. The second round of local elections will be held on October 31.