NGO Syri i Vizioni from Peja, in cooperation with the local organization Kosovar Women’s Initiative within the coalition of non-governmental organizations Democracy in Action, held a public debate with the citizens of the Municipality of Gjakova, where they discussed the importance of citizens’ participation in elections and holding of free democratic elections.
Present at the public debate were representatives from civil society, citizens and the media, who recently became aware of the work and commitment that Democracy in Action is doing in voter education with the sole purpose of increasing the participation of citizens, especially young voters. , in the November 3 elections.
Also, those present were informed about the work and preparations being made by the Municipal Electoral Commission, MEC, to have a regular election process in this municipality.
The civil society and the citizens who were present in this debate have asked the MEC to review and clean the voter lists from the voter lists, since by clearing the names of those citizens who have died, the possibilities of misuse of votes are reduced and increase in voter turnout.
If the list of voters is not cleaned and the names of those who have died appear again and again, there is a possibility of manipulation in the solution as it happened before and what they did to us will make us lose faith in free and democratic elections, said the present citizens.
While civil society has requested that candidates who do not belong to that municipality or their names do not appear on the list of voters in that municipality are not allowed to run in the name of councilors for the municipal assembly, alluding to Serbian political parties and civic initiatives .
It was also requested at the meeting to organize election simulations with young voters as well as intensive education campaigns, because, according to those present at the meeting, young people are very little informed about how to vote and how important their participation in the elections is.