Croatia will elect local representative and executive authorities this Sunday, with more than 3.5 million citizens eligible to vote at 6,600 polling stations nationwide. Political attention is centered on key races in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split, where multiple candidates and party lists are contesting mayoral positions and city assemblies.

In Zagreb, 12 lists are competing for 49 seats, with seven mayoral candidates. Rijeka and Split each have six mayoral hopefuls and seven and nine competing lists for their 31-member councils. The cities of Zadar, Pula, Varaždin, Dubrovnik, and others are also under close watch.

A total of 31,082 candidates are running for local office in 576 municipalities, cities, and counties. In seven cities and 112 municipalities, only one candidate ran for mayor or municipal head, effectively securing the post before election day. The same is true for 35 municipal councils with just one candidate list each.

Elections for mayors, prefects, and municipal heads require over 50% of the vote to win. If no candidate meets this threshold, a second round will be held on June 1 between the top two. Minority deputies (79 total), and Croatian deputies in 12 municipalities where Croats are a minority, are also being elected.

Local councils and assemblies are filled through proportional representation, and only lists that win at least 5% of valid votes will qualify. The number of council seats ranges from 7 to 47, depending on local population size.

The process involves nearly 13 million color-coded ballots. Citizens without ID or registration can vote using a special “blue certificate” available on Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM.

The State Electoral Commission will report turnout at noon and 5 PM, with first results published from 9 PM and updated every 15 minutes.

Compared to 2021, these elections see fewer voters (down by 147,000), candidates (7,700 fewer), and observers. Around 6,600 observers are accredited this year—down from 10,500 in 2021—with the highest number in Split-Dalmatia County (1,125) and the lowest in Međimurje (34).