North Macedonia will apply electronic voter identification for the first time in its local polls to be held on October 17.

The election date was confirmed by the speaker of the assembly Talat Xhaferri who also reiterated that in the last 20 days ahead of the election campaign there will be neither plenary session nor meetings in the parliamentary committees in order to avoid politicization of parliamentary activities.

Local elections were due in September but were postponed to allow more time for the registration of the population which was also delayed amid a deteriorating epidemiological situation in April when the census was initially due.

The decision to announce the elections was deposited at the State Election Commission, ministry of foreign affairs, and justice ministry which are tasked with the organization and monitoring of the electoral process.

However, it remains unclear whether the elections will take place under the current Electoral Code or whether amendments to the electoral threshold for independent candidates and open lists for the election of municipal councilors will be approved.

Independent candidates will need 2% of the ballots, something that has ignited a debate in the country with President Stevo Pendarovksi even vetoing the bill and asking to lower the threshold