Presidential Election, 24 April 2024 and Parliamentary Elections, 8 May 2024
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Mission at a glance
Head of Mission: Jillian Stirk
12 core team experts from 12 participating States, based in Skopje
20 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
300 Short Term Observers to be deployed to both the 24 April presidential election and the 8 May parliamentary elections and potential second round of presidential election
Mission schedule
21 March: Opening press conference
25 March: Arrival of long-term observers
27 March: Deployment of long-term observers throughout the country
20 April: Arrival of short-term observers
22 April: Deployment of short-term observers to areas of observation
24 April: Presidential election day
25 April: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
27 April: Departure of short-term observers
4 May: Arrival of short-term observers
6 May: Deployment of short terms observers to areas of observation
8 May: Parliamentary election day and potential second round of presidential election
9 May: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
10 May: Departure of short-term observers
15 May: Departure of long-term observers
19 May: Departure of the core team
Following an invitation to observe the 24 April presidential and the 8 May parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from 30 January to 2 February, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM).
Livestream: International Election Observation Mission press conference, Thursday, 9 May 2024
Long-term Observation
The ODIHR EOM, headed by Jillian Stirk, consists of 12 international experts based in Skopje. In addition, 24 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 27 March.
The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards, as well as with national legislation.
Observers will closely examine fundamental components of the elections, such as:
- voter registration
- candidate registration
- campaign activities and financing
- the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies
- election-related legislation and its implementation
- the resolution of election-related disputes
The ODIHR EOM will also conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign.
Election Day
ODIHR has requested 300 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to both the 24 April and 8 May election days. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country, in two-person multinational teams, to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.
The day after each election day, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation, including potential recommendations, will be published approximately eight weeks after the end of the election process.
Previous Elections
ODIHR has observed 21 previous elections in North Macedonia, most recently the 2021 local elections.