Scholarly record

VOTER APATHY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

B. Lutfiu

Abstract

Voter apathy or the lack of interest to participate in the electoral process by ordinary citizens in the Republic of Macedonia, has been and remains one of the main issues that the electoral system of the country is being faced with. In fact, during the last couple of elections voter apathy has shown growing trends, while no real mechanisms to limit it have been set in motion. In fact, voter apathy in certain electoral cycles has even threatened the legality of the entire electoral process and the legislator of the country has decreased the criteria in terms of voter participation needed to have successful elections. The paper strives to provide a proper analysis of voter apathy in the Republic of Macedonia, for different periods, electoral cycles and types of elections in an attempt to determine the causes of such trends as well as to analyze the consequences of having low general interest in the electoral process for the general democratization of the society, being totally aware that elections are perhaps the single most influential element in building democratic capacities and ensuring transit of political power and influence as well. Although, not much can be tested in terms of possible solutions to the problem, the author introduces s few solutions to this problem that the political system of the Republic of Macedonia has been faced with.

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