TIRANA, May 14 /ATA/ – By Maela Marini/ – Albanians headed to the polls on Sunday to elect local councilors and mayors across 61 municipalities.
Voters will choose between 23,907 candidates for councillor and 144 candidates for mayors from 40 political parties.
The parties expected to compete for governing positions in the country include the Socialist Party headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Democratic Party led by Enkelejd Alibeaj, and the Together We Win coalition comprising former president Ilir Meta from the Freedom Party, and former prime minister and co-founder of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha.
Polling stations for local elections in the 61 municipalities opened at 07:00 hrs and are expected to close at 19:00 hrs.
The Electronic Voter Identification System (SVIS) will be applied through E- Identification Devices (EIIs) installed in the voting centers in three municipalities, which will ensure the accurate biometric identification of voters, based on the electronic register.
The Regulatory Commission in the CEC has decided in favor of using recording cameras and monitors (screens) for the registration and display of ballot papers at the Vote Counting Place, the use of the real-time video transmission system for monitoring vote counting by VCP, in premises of the Central Election Commission.
In line with the recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR, the resolution of the Assembly of Albania and recommendations from the People’s Advocate, facilities have been provided for the participation in voting of persons with disabilities by placing voting centers on the first floor of the buildings.
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