CEC reduces number of 44 to 19 polling stations in the north

Periskopi

14 April 2023, 14:02(3 years ago)

The Central Election Commission (KQZ), at the meeting held Friday, has made a decision to reduce the number of polling stations for the 23 April elections, expected to be held in four municipalities in the north. This proposal has been approved by 8 votes for and one abstention. The proposal at the meeting was presented by the member [...]

This proposal has been approved by 8 votes for and one abstention. The proposal at the meeting has been presented by the member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo in the CEC, Ariani Elshani,

Of the 44 polling stations that were usually held in the 2019 and 2021 elections, 8 of them have confirmed they will open them. However, based on this case on the assessment of both the KKZ and the security organs, it has been found that only 6 in ordinary locations and 13 polling stations will be alternative centres or in container”, Elshani stressed.

At this meeting, it is also decided that the number of pollings will drop from 69 to 34, while it is decided that the number of voters for a vote will increase from 750 to 2 thousand voters.

On 23 April, extraordinary elections for mayors of northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviqi are expected to be held, as well as early elections for the two municipal municipalities in Zvecan and Leposaviq.

The election decision was made after the mayors, along with other Serbs, resigned on November 5th last year, in sign of opposition to the Kosovo government's decision to launch the process of reregistering Serbian vehicles with illegal license plates.

These elections were meant to be held on December 18th last year, but Kosovo institutions were forced to cancel them because groups of citizens there caused incidents during the preparation phase.

During a plenary session of the Kosovo Parliament, former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj urged authorities to postpone elections in the north, as he said the situation there is not good. According to him, holding elections on April 23rd may “deepen the consequences” for Kosovo.