What is election silence and how is it regulated by law?

Election silence goes into effect at midnight, between Friday and Saturday, more specifically, between October 29 and 30

Election silence starts exactly at midnight, between Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30. The election silence lasts until 7.00 pm on the day when there is voting for the second round of the local elections (Sunday, October 32). This implies that spreading of propaganda, party agitation, vote-buying, campaigning and other violations to the Electoral Code are strictly prohibited.

During election silence, reporting is made on the elections and the course of voting, but all forms of electoral media presentation stop.

According to the Electoral Code, Article 76-B, violation of the election silence includes broadcast or publish of any information, photographs, audio and audio-visual materials that are related to or feature election participants

Furthermore, violation of election silence are also any forms of media reporting that are openly or covertly in favour of someone’s electoral campaign and can impact the voters’ decision.

Data that reveal the identity of the political entities and/or individuals involved in incidents or other irregularities on Election Day, as well as statements made by candidates in the election process, election campaign participants, political parties’ representatives and public office holders is also prohibited.

What does the law say?

The Electoral Code regulates election silence in Article 76-B. Here is what the law states:

Article 76-B

(1) During the election silence, all forms of electoral media presentation of election campaign participants shall stop.

(2) Broadcasters shall continue to report on the election process during the election silence and on Election Day.

(3) During the reporting on the days of election silence, media shall violate the election silence if they broadcast or publish any information, photographs, audio and audio-visual materials that are related to or feature election participants; any forms of media reporting that are openly or covertly in favour of someone’s electoral campaign and can impact the voters’ decision; data that reveal the identity of the political entities and/or individuals involved in incidents or other irregularities on Election Day, as well as statements made by candidates in the election process, election campaign participants, political parties’ representatives and public office holders.

Reporting

CIVIL calls on its observers and all citizens to report violation of election silence.

Reports can be submitted on the websiteslobodniizbori.info or in a Citizen application,which can easily be found by clicking on the banner Stop fake news and hate speech on the internet portal civilmedia.mk.

In addition, irregularities can be reported at the following email ([email protected]), in a message on CIVIL’s Facebook page or at the following telephone numbers: 02 / 5209 176 (on Sunday, from 7.00 am) and 070 699 580 (Saturday, October 30, from 12.30 pm).