Elections and Voting Integrity

In 2026, Serbia's elections are still defined by blurred state-party lines, voter pressure, misuse of public resources, unequal media access, and intimidation of observers - the opposite of free and fair elections. CRTA's Election Observation Mission has delivered the same verdict every cycle since 2023: neither free nor fair, with each year adding violence and criminalization, especially in the November 2025 and March 2026 local elections.

Elections 2026

October

The International Election Observation Mission led by ODIHR published its preliminary findings on the 25 October early parliamentary elections. The mission noted high turnout and vigorous competition, but found that the equality of campaign opportunities was seriously compromised by the misuse of state resources, pressure on voters and public-sector employees, and pronounced media bias in favour of "United Serbia". It also concluded that priority ODIHR recommendations remain unaddressed, that the authorities did not explain voter register discrepancies, and that election disputes were not consistently resolved through effective legal remedies.

CRTA's Election Observation Mission is reporting live from the 25 October parliamentary elections on CRTA.Plus. Throughout the day, the live blog brings findings from CRTA observers at polling stations, CRTA's turnout estimates at 10:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 19:00, compared with the 2023 elections, and live streams of CRTA's press conferences. After polling stations close, CRTA will publish its preliminary projection of results and seats, based on a parallel vote tabulation on a random, representative sample of 500 polling stations - not before 21:30.

Live blog

CRTA Election Observation Mission published its preliminary report on the campaign for the early parliamentary elections of 25 October, covering the period from 9 September to 16 October 2026. The report finds that most indicators deteriorated compared with the first part of the campaign: the elections are being held on a voter register that has not been audited, 116 incidents involving physical violence and verbal threats were recorded, and on broadcasters with national coverage the share of the authorities rose to almost three quarters of the time.

Download the report

Serbia's Election Record

CRTA Election Observation Mission - verdicts by cycle

2023

Neither free nor fair

2024

Neither free nor fair

2025

Neither free nor fair

2026

Overshadowed by violence

Pattern: ODIHR has documented the blurring of the line between state and party since 2016, and voter pressure since 2012.

* Will not reflected - the degree of documented irregularities is such that the results do not reflect the electoral will of the citizens.

CRTA's Election Observation History

Parliamentary elections

2016, 2020, 2022, 2023

2020: Regular parliamentary elections
2016, 2022, 2023: Snap parliamentary elections

Presidential elections

2017, 2022

*Additionally: Referendum on Constitutional changes in 2022

Local elections

2017: Zaječar, Pećinci. 2018: Lučani, Belgrade 2022: Belgrade. 2023: Belgrade. 2024: Belgrade
2025: Kosjerić, Zaječar, Mionica, Sečanj, Negotin. 2026: Aranđelovac, Bor, Bajina Bašta, Kula, Smederevska Palanka, Sevojno, Lučani, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Knjaževac

Update

ODIHR preliminary findings: high turnout, but seriously compromised equality of campaign opportuniti...

International observers assess the 25 October elections as competitive and well administered, but marked by misuse of state resources, pressure on voters, biased media coverage and weak institutional oversight.

Update

Record turnout gives Student List an absolute majority, CRTA projection shows

With turnout of 69 percent, the highest this century, the Student List won a projected 138 seats, while CRTA observers recorded pressure on polling boards at every second polling station.

Update

Polling stations

There are 8,392 polling stations, 119 more than in 2023; for 18 per cent of them the area voters come from has changed, and 328 addresses are listed under two or three different polling stations.

Update

Political context

In the last weeks before the elections, cases of violence remained unresolved, domestic and international observers were targeted by attempts to discredit them, and state institutions were used ever more openly for party purposes.

Update

Conduct of the elections: electoral institutions and actors

The REC carried out most of its tasks within the deadlines, but the Agency for Prevention of Corruption did not exercise effective oversight of the campaign, and divisions in the REM Council prevented decisions on complaints against broadcasters.

Update

Position of observers

Challenges to independent observation escalated from claims of bias to calls for arrests and a ban, while the authorities disputed the impartiality of international missions in advance.

Update

Voter register

The register was closed on 9 October with 6,450,523 voters and without an audit; notes by members of the Commission describe it from the inside for the first time and point to tens of thousands of records that need to be checked.

Update

The course of the election campaign

Violence, threats and pressure on voters, together with the use of institutions for party mobilisation, marked the field campaign; United Serbia and the Student List accounted for 91 per cent of all recorded activities.

Update

Media and information

The authorities received 72 per cent of the time on broadcasters with national coverage, the opposition was portrayed negatively in nearly two fifths of its time, and pro-government portals cast critics of the authorities as a source of violence.

CRTA.Plus is part of CRTA’s work to document developments related to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability in Serbia.

Key Issues

Slučajevi

Other pages

Slučajevi

Elections and Voting Integrity

International observers find high turnout but seriously compromised equality of campaign opportunities in the 25 October elections.

CRTA is reporting live from election day, with turnout estimates, observers’ findings and a preliminary results projection.

CRTA Election Observation Mission publishes its preliminary report on the campaign for the 25 October elections, finding that most indicators deteriorated compared with the first part of the campaign.

Serbia's Election Record

CRTA's Election Observation History

ODIHR preliminary findings: high turnout, but seriously compromised equality of campaign opportuniti...

Record turnout gives Student List an absolute majority, CRTA projection shows

Polling stations

Political context

Conduct of the elections: electoral institutions and actors

Position of observers

Voter register

The course of the election campaign

Media and information