During the period, all planned activities were realized according to the dynamic of the project document, without deviations. The key questions such as, youth awareness raising as an important element for the voting process, and that their voice is not only their right but and obligation as well, were addressed throughout the campaign „Get Informed, Be active, Vote!“.
For the first time in Macedonia was established Platform for stimulating active citizens participation of its kind dedicated for the young population, as well as for all citizens with their right to vote. The Platform gave an opportunity to read the realized activities by the current mayors (81 municipality) , and to read the manifestos of mayor’s candidates from twenty (20) bigger (urban) municipalities about the ongoing Local elections in Macedonia 2017.
- Establishing of the Platform for stimulating active citizen participation in the form of informative and interactive web application (web App), available for all computers, smartphones and androids. The results from the online voting could be seen on the web application
- Preparation of promotional video-clip (bilingual– alb/mac) in a form of “Speed Draw Whiteboard Presentation”.
- TV debate debate and panel discussion, discussing the importance of youth participation in the election processes, by using their right to vote in front of the young audience.
The web app was open for voting on 1st of October, where in the period from 1-15th of October, 2017 година, the page was viewed by 4484 people from which: 968 people opened the app and made previews, 687 people actively participated (watching the video-clip, opening other sub-menus etc.), whilst, 264 people were voting for the manifesto they have chosen. From the voters, 151 are aged 18-29 years old, women 144 and men 120, Ethnic Macedonian 216, Albanian 16, Vlachs 6, Boshniaks 8, Roma 1, Serb 3 and Turks 14 people. According to education: graduated 127, Phd 8, Msc 31 and high school 95 people.
It is worth noting that, the mayor’s candidates manifestos were hard to find, and for that reason we had to focus only on 20 bigger (urban) municipalities (form 81), but the time as well was short for collecting data, and all these because of the late communication of the manifestos.
After the implemented activities, we have recommendation for further electoral processes, such as: the candidates manifestos to be handed over together with the candidates lists, which means 1,5 to 2 months before the election day. All this, in the direction of giving time to the citizens, to become more familiar with the activities that the candidates plan to do, and to have the opportunity and time to compare the manifestos and to vote for the program which is in their interest.
The summary of results can be seen on a following LINK
