Turnout in the municipal elections reached 41.5 percent by 17h, the State Electoral Commission informed.

Turnout remains highest in rural municipalities in the center and east of Macedonia, while dismally low in the majority Albanian municipalities, where the large emigration rate and issuing of dual citizenships keeps an inflated voter roll. Turnout in Novaci near Bitola reached 69.76 by 17h. Vevcani, Demir Hisar, Krusevo, Makedonski Brod, Dojran and Konce also voted over 60 percent by 17h.

Other largely small cities, like Kriva Palanka, Probistip, Pehcevo, Gevgelija and Kratovo, had turnout over 50 percent, while Kavadarci and Prilep were around 52%.

On the other end of the spectrum, majority Albanian Cair and Saraj reached turnout of 34.8 and 32.2 percent.