The Central Election Commission of Kosovo announced that by 5:00 PM, over 27 percent of voters in 18 municipalities had voted in the local election runoff, based on over 93% of centers reporting.
Compared to the same time period with the first round of local elections held on October 12, the turnout is lower, said the head of the CEC, Kreshnik Radoniqi.
During the press conference, Radoniqi addressed the issue of assisted voting, for which he said there have been several complaints.
He said that assisted voting is guaranteed by law for people with disabilities, namely those who “cannot fill out and cast the ballot” in the box, Radio Free Europe reports.
“This does not mean that in the name of this guaranteed right, people who do not have disabilities should be abused and included in this category,” he said.
Radoniqi added that based on the CEC’s Election Regulations, it has been decided that a voter’s disability must be proven with a relevant document.
Asked whether illiterate people are entitled to assistance, he said they have the right to be instructed on how to vote, but they cannot be offered assistance at the voting booth.
Parties invite citizens to vote in the runoff
Political parties have called on citizens to go out and vote to elect their mayors in the 18 municipalities where the runoff round is being held.
Citizens will be able to exercise their right to vote until 7:00 p.m.
The Vetëvendosje Movement has invited citizens to use the remaining hours, arguing that “every vote has extraordinary weight for democracy.”
The Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Vlora Çitaku, also called for participation in the elections at a press conference. According to her, the number of voters is expected to increase in the afternoon hours.
“Every vote is a decision for the future and today is the day that defines four years,” she said.
Besnik Tahiri from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo also made the same call. However, he said that the turnout so far is low compared to the first round held on October 12.
Both PDK and AAK said they have received complaints about the issue of assisted voting, complaints that they said they have addressed to the CEC.
These two parties also demanded that citizens be left free to choose who they want to vote for and not be subject to influence during this electoral process.