18г. get out and vote
You are 18 years old! You have right to do everything! You have right to a personal life! Be yours! Make the right decision! Don’t let anyone to decide instead of You!
FINALLY!!! GET OUT AND VOTE!
Our two heroes, Marija Magdalena and Darko, who voluntarily participated as models for this publication, have just turn 18 years.
If someone asks me what do I get by turning 18, without any thought I would answer: “No more control from my parents, no more telling me what is right and what is wrong, how to dress up, how to speak, when should get at home‌ Now I can name myself independent person. Person that can make life decisions
It's great feeling to be an adult. I'm not afraid anymore that someone will judge my acts, because when someone asks me why I did what I did, I'll answer that I'm 18 years old and I did that because I decide so.
But, looking on the other side of the medallion, I realized that it's not so easy at all. By gaining adulthood, beside the rights I have, bigger obligations are here too. Now when I do something wrong, there is no more Mom! Dad! I'm responsible for my actions.
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I realized that if I like to do whatever I want to do, I'd have to find a job, I'd have to behave more responsible, to be careful for the decisions that I make when it refers to my future.
But I'm just an individual in this wide world. How can I decide for my future, when I just turned 18?
I find out that by becoming 18, I acquire RIGHT TO VOTE, right which is most sacred in a democratic society. Right that allows me to decide for my future. But, how to cast my own right to vote? How to decide for my future?
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I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MY RIGHTS! All the time I listen for election model‌ That is sum of rules that determine way and action for turning votes into mandates, i.e. Representative positions. There are two types of election model: majority model and proportional model. Through majority model the candidate that won majority of the votes is elected, which can be relative (more votes than the other/others candidates) or absolute (50% + 1 of the total number of votes). Election of the President of Republic of Macedonia is conducted on the territory of Republic of Macedonia as one election unit according to majority model. In the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia are elected 120 members, according to the proportional model, for which territory of Macedonia is divided in six electoral units and in each are elected 20 members of the Parliament. Election of the members in the municipality councils is been conducted on the territory of the municipality, i.e. city Skopje according to the proportional model. Election of Mayor is conducted on the territory of the municipality, i.e. city Skopje according to the majority model.
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On the next elections we will go out and vote. We will exercise our right to vote.
BECAUSE... VOTE
FOR MY
I FUTURE
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Why elections are monitored? Transparency of the election process which is implemented according to the law regulations is the main precondition for democracy development. Attendance of the observers in the election unit, knowing election rules and processes can prevent election rules to be broken.
And who do we elect, when and why? Presidential elections The president of the Republic of Macedonia is elected for term of five years. For President of Republic of Macedonia is elected the candidate that won majority of the total number of voters registered in the Voters’ List, and if neither of the candidates in the first round won absolute majority, elections are repeated and in the second round is voted for the two candidates that won most of the votes in the first round. Of cours, winner is the one that wins majority of the votes. After the President is elected‌ ...he represents and Republic of Macedonia in the country and abroad, takes care for regular and coordinative functioning of the State Administration and is responsible for the defense and the independence and territorial integrity of Republic of Macedonia.
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Parliamentary elections On the Parliamentary elections we elect our representatives in the Macedonian Parliament. Members of the Parliament are elected in direct secret elections, according to the proportional model.
Parliament of Republic of Macedonia The Parliament has legislative authority in Macedonia, i.e. adopts laws in Macedonia. 120 membersare elected in the parliament ,for term of four years.
Government in Republic of Macedonia The Government is formed by the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia, i.e. Executive Authority and the implementation of the adopted laws is entrusted to the Government. The Government proposes laws, state budget and other acts to the Parliament, implements laws and other decisions of the Parliament, conducts state and foreign policy and also the Government directs and supervises the work of the Public Administration.
Local elections On the Local elections we elect our representatives in the municipal council and the Mayor of the Municipality as well. Example from this process is city Skopje, which has two-level local self-government regulated with specific law. Mayor and Council of the Municipality elected for mandate of four years.
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Election of Neighborhood Self-government The Neighborhood Self-goverment is the lowest form of citizens organizing of which allows them to participate and impact on the conducting of the public affairs that directly affect to their life and work. In the municipality can be established following forms of Neighborhood Self-goverment: urban community (in the cities) and neighborhood councils (in other populated places). Council of the urban i.e. neighborhood is elected on gatherings of the citizens of the urban community, i.e. Neighborhood council, in manner and procedure regulated with statute of the Municipality.
Referendum Referendum is a form of direct deciding of the citizens. On local level the Council is obligated to announce referendum on a request of at least 20% of the voters in the municipality. Also the Council may announce a referendum for affairs under Council's jurisdiction, under own initiative. On national level, referendum can be announced after previous voting of the majority of the Parliament members or the Parliament is responsible to announce a referendum when a proposal is submitted by at least 150 000 voters. Decision brought on the referendum is compulsory.
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I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ELECTION PROCEDURE! All starts with election announcement‌ The Act for election announcement is adopted by the President of the Parliament and the Act determines the day for starting deadlines for implementation of the election activities and the Election Day.
Afterwards starts the Candidate's race and Candidature That's right. Candidates are persons that express themselves in public in their intention to compete on the elections. Proposing of candidates is been realized through submitting list for President of the Republic, candidates' list for Members of Parliament, candidates' list for Council Members, i.e. candidate list for Mayor. Candidates can be supported and proposed by some political party or coalition of several political parties. Also, candidates can be independent as long as they are supported by determined number of citizens, i.e. group of voters, which requires certain number of signatures.
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And when does the election campaign starts? Election campaign starts 20 days before the day determined for the elections and ends 24 hours before the starts of the elections. During pre-election campaign candidates promote their programme over public appearances and meetings with the citizens and also through distribution of promotional materials as brochures, leaflets, and posters in order to win as many votes as they can. Campaign ends 24 hours before Election Day and there starts pre-election silence which lasts until end of the elections.
I heard for Voters' List‌ In the Voters' List are signed all citizens that are over 18 years of age and live in the territory of Republic of Macedonia, and have valid identity card or passport. Voters' List is managed by Ministry of Justice according to the Register of citizens in form of voters register by automatic elaboration of the data. Also there is Voters' List online that can show you if you're signed in it.
www.izbirackispisok.org.mk
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I arrive at the polling station... ‌That is a room where voting is been conducted which has to be arranged in a manner which will ensure secrecy of voting preventing for someone seeing voter filling up the ballot. In the room determined for voting are posted candidate's lists. In the room is forbidden to contain posters, photographs of candidates, political symbols. Voting starts at 7 a.m. and lasts uninterrupted till 7 p.m.
...Electoral Board... ‌Is the body responsible for conducting of the elections at the polling station, it prepares and organizes voting, ensures regularity and secrecy of voting and sum up voting results. Except electoral board, monitors can attend, domestic and foreign. They monitor atmosphere in and out of the polling station, procedure of voting and counting votes.
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And finally I get to vote... …when you enter the polling station, you have to present ID card (identity card or passport). After the voter signs up to vote, the electoral board checks if the voter is on the appropriate polling station and with ultraviolet lamp checks if the voter has indelible mark on the nail and thumb on the right arm. After registering (signing up your name) in the Voters' List, the electoral board hands out ballot. Voting is
been performed with one ballot for every type of elections prescribed in the election procedure. Voting is secret in manner that is encircled the number in front of the list submitter, i.e. number in front of the candidate that the voter is voting for, and the electoral board stamps the back side of the ballot paper, before it is put in the ballot box.
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VOTING PROCEDURE
In the polling statipn, firstly your RIGHT THUMB is to be checked with UV LAMP to show if there are marks from indelible ink
You receive VOTING BALLOT with the first STAMP
Vote by yourself and just once!
Behind free VOTING SCREEN and in secrecy YOU ENCIRCLE the number of the list that you wish to vote for
Before you go to vote ensure that you bring identity card or Macedonian passport
СТАРТ
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Afterwards, you present your ID and sign in the VOTERS’ LIST
Your RIGHT THUMB is splattered with INDELIBLE INK
You put the folded VOTING BALLOT in the BALLOT BOX
On the folded VOTING BALLOT again is to be put STAMP
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...After closure of the polling station... ...After closing of the polling station, electoral board counts out the votes. At first are being counted non-used voting ballots, and afterwards ballot box is to be open and count out
the votes. Ballots are being grouped in special envelope and submitted to the Municipal Election Commission Everything is been written in polling station protocol... Each Electoral Board maintains report for the work in which is being stated all data for the procedure and elaborated results of the voting as well notes from the members of the Electoral board and monitors, if there are any. The Polling Station Protocol is signed by the president and the members of the electoral board.
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When will the results be announced? After submitting the reports of the electoral boards, the State Election Commission informs the public for the elaborated results of the voting as soon as are solved all objections regarding the protection of voters' rights. Also it is announced the turnout of voters - total number of voters that participated on the elections and voted.
And what if the election procedures were violated? Objection because of violating of the election rules in the candidature procedure or the elections may submit the candidates and members of the electoral board in time of 48 hours after end of the voting.
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And when are the elections being annulled and repeated?
State Election Commission will nullify elections at particular polling station because of irregularities that affected or could be affected on the result for instance if it is violated secrecy of voting, if the voting was interrupted longer than 3 hours, number of the voting ballots in the ballot box is bigger than the number of the voters that voted and some person or people voted for other people.
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And what about early elections? These are elections which are announced in duration of the mandate of the president or the Parliament. Announcing early elections is realized because of dismissal of the representative body before end of the mandate of that body (parliamentary or local elections) or in case of death or resignation of the President of Republic of Macedonia.
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...SOME TIPS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW...
1. 2. 3. 20
VOTE HIGH-MINDED!
FAMILY AND PROXY VOTING IS PROHIBITED!
USE OF FORCE AND THREATS DURING THE VOTING IS PROHIBITED!
CARRYING WEAPON AT THE POLLING STATION IS PROHIBITED!
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DESTRUCTION OF THE ELECTION MATERIALS IS PROHIBITED!
5. vote for me
6. 7.
CARRYING PARTY PROPAGANDA MATERIAL ON THE VOTING IS PROHIBITED
FOR VIOLATION OF THE LAW PROVISIONS IS FORESEEN AN IMPRISONMENT OF AT LEAST 3 YEARS
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And what if I don’t vote? Not going out on voting is called “Voters' abstinence”. That is your right, but then you leave your vote and will to those that go out on voting and decide for the rest of you. Don't let anyone to decide for your future. On the next elections get out and vote! Vote for you, your future, your place
VOTE!
in the society. Use your sacred democratic right!
Wasn’t enough for the last 18 years someone else to decide for you?
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... and for Election Law Defines and determines procedure for candidature in elections, bodies for conducting of elections, rules for conducting the elections, process and rules for voting and elaborating of the election results, rules for monitoring elections, protections of the voters' right and everything else important for elections prescribed by law. Election Law in Republic of Macedonia is complemented and adopted in 2008.
Who organizes and manages elections? Bodies responsible for implementation of elections are State Election Commission, Municipal Election Commissions and electoral boards. Task of the bodies responsible for implementation of the elections is to ensure regularity and legality of the preparations and realization of the elections as well announcing results of elections.
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„ Dictatorships are one-way streets. In democracy is allowed two-way traffic”. (Alberto Moravia) “Democracy means: respecting game rules, even when the referee is not here“. (Manfred Hausmann) „Democracy means deciding by the ones that this decision refers to“. (Carl Friedrich von Weizsacker) „About democracy I understand equal opportunities, as for the weakest, as for the strongest.“ (Mahatma Gandhi) „Democracy doesn’t run, but she is getting to the goal more sure.“ (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) „Highest measure of the democracy doesn’t mean highest measure of freedom, nor highest measure of participation.“ (A.D. Benoist)
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Your future is in your hands. Your 18 years of age are more than enough for YOU to decide who you want to look after for your future. Do not hesitate. Get out and vote. Vote for yourself. Voting on elections makes you more responsible person, person that looks after for its future and the future of its country. This brochure will help you to clarify things regarding your democratic right of vote. Coalition SEGA is always present among youth, to help and educate in realization of the rights of young people in Republic of Macedonia. Therefore, ask and get informed constantly about how to realize your right to vote. Trust us, there are no stupid questions, there are only stupid answers.
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www.sega.org.mk