[EPA]
Run-off elections for mayors and regional governors have been abolished following Parliament’s approval of a new local government code on Friday.
Under the previous system, a second round of voting was held one week later if no candidate for mayor or regional governor secured more than 42% of the vote in the first round.
The new law introduces a preferential voting system, allowing voters to indicate a second-choice candidate on the same ballot.
If no candidate reaches the 42% threshold in the initial count, the second-preference votes cast by supporters of eliminated candidates will be redistributed to the two leading contenders to determine the winner, eliminating the need for a separate run-off election.
