ZAGREB, 15 April (Hina) - On 18 May, Croatian voters will decide on the makeup of local authorities in 576 units - this being the total number of municipalities, towns, cities, and counties in which councils and assemblies will be elected, along with mayors, municipal heads, county prefects, and their deputies. Local elections will take place in 428 municipalities, 127 towns and cities, 20 counties, and in the City of Zagreb, which holds both city and county status. This will be the fourth election in Croatia in just over a year. Parliamentary elections were held in April last year, followed by European Parliament elections in June, and presidential elections in December and January. Third round of voting sometimes possible Municipal heads, mayors, and county prefects are elected if they muster 50% plus one vote in the first round of the local elections. If no candidate achieves this on 18 May, a second round of voting will be held two weeks later, on 1 June, between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. The candidate who receives more votes will be elected. Although rare, it is possible for municipal heads and mayors to be elected in a third round of voting. In the 2021 local elections, this occurred in Kraljevec na Sutli, and previously in Bistrica and Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. Eligible voters are Croatian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have permanent residence in the administrative unit where the elections are being held. Unlike presidential, parliamentary, and European Parliament elections, voters may only cast their vote in their place of residence - not in another location, either in Croatia or abroad. Independent slates required to collect voter signatures For candidacy slates for local councils and assemblies, political parties are not required to collect voter signatures, but independent (non-party) slates must gather the prescribed number of signatures. The exact number depends on the population of the unit, ranging from 25 signatures in municipalities with up to 350 residents to 2,500 signatures in units with more than half a million inhabitants. Regardless of whether the candidates are backed by political parties or voters, all candidacies for municipal heads, mayors, and county prefects must be supported by a required number of signatures - ranging from 35 in municipalities with up to 350 residents to 5,000 in cities and counties with more than 500,000 residents. Only voters with permanent residence in the municipality, city, or county where the election is being held are eligible to sign. Over 38,000 candidates in local elections four years ago Once the candidacy deadline passes, it will be interesting to see whether interest in participating in local government has increased or declined compared to 2021, when more than 38,000 candidates ran for both executive and representative roles. On the lists for county assemblies - including the City of Zagreb, which holds county status - there were just over 7,100 candidates, while nearly 29,000 ran for city and municipal councils. There were 225 candidates for county prefects and their deputies, and 1,901 individuals ran for the positions of municipal heads and mayors, including their deputies.