Serbia Vote: 500,000 Flawed Records Raise Questions
A new audit found half a million voter files missing street addresses two days before polling stations open.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Serbians will head to the polls on Monday, October 25, to choose their next government.
Aleksandar Vucic, who has led Serbian politics for fourteen years, is seeking the role of prime minister. He stepped down as president in late September to avoid a third term in that office. His main competitor is a student-led opposition movement that emerged from recent protests. This coalition includes university professors and nonpartisan figures, with cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic heading their candidate list.
An investigation by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service identified approximately 500,000 registered voters who lack a complete address. Many of these records are missing specific street names or house numbers. The audit also found hundreds of voters listed at public locations, such as social welfare centers, and at residential addresses that could not logically hold that many people. These gaps in the voter roll have intensified concerns about the fairness of the election.
The timing of the vote is sensitive for many citizens. It occurs just days before the second anniversary of the Novi Sad tragedy. On November 1, 2024, a renovated canopy at the city's railway station collapsed, killing sixteen people. That disaster sparked nationwide protests over corruption at the construction site, which was a project led by Chinese businesses. Authorities responded with police force and arrests. In March 2025, demonstrators alleged that the government deployed an unlawful sonic weapon against peaceful protesters.
Polling data suggests the electorate is deeply divided between the ruling coalition and the student movement. Vladimir Bilcik, a former European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, described the upcoming vote as the first in over a decade with a genuinely uncertain outcome. The government claims it has implemented all recommendations from the OSCE following their criticism of the 2023 election. However, an interim report from the OSCE contradicted that assertion. The organization has deployed 300 observers to Serbia to monitor the process.
Issues extend beyond the domestic voter register. Investigations noted that the number of eligible voters in Bosnia and Kosovo increased ahead of the vote. These regions are considered key sources of support for Vucic's Progressive Party among ethnic Serbs. Four employees of Serbia-funded institutions in Kosovo told RFE/RL that they faced pressure to vote for the ruling party. This practice has also been documented in several municipalities within Serbia.
Allegations of illegal surveillance have further complicated the political climate. A statement from the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee on October 21 cited reports of illegal monitoring of opposition members. Research by the Serbian nonprofit SHARE and Toronto University researchers alleged that at least sixteen cases of the Pegasus surveillance software were used in 2026. The software is illegal in Serbia. Government officials have denied targeting their political rivals with the technology.
International observers have noted a decline in freedoms in Serbia over the past decade, a trend confirmed by the latest Freedom House report. Some US lawmakers have warned that Moscow may play an active role in the election. The European Parliament has raised concerns about Russian influence operations. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson stated that Russia is deploying resources to monitor and disrupt Serbian citizens and the student movement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally expressed support for Vucic ahead of the election.
