Update
Auditing the voter register: purpose, impact, and where we a...
CRTA+ Voter register audit: only 4 of 69 checks can be performed under current data access CRTA̵...
More directly and precisely than in a number of previous reports, ODIHR concludes that the elections were held under unequal conditions, pointing to the dominant role of the President of the Republic and the systemic advantages enjoyed by the ruling party. As stated in the report, this blurred the line between the state and the party, which is contrary to the OSCE Copenhagen Document and international standards.
Concerns were again raised about schemes of voter intimidation, pressure on employees in the public sector, and the misuse of public resources. It was also assessed that citizens did not have sufficient opportunities to vote on the basis of well-informed choices, due to inadequate reporting by the majority of national media outlets.
It is also very significant that ODIHR, although it did not observe the Belgrade elections, highlighted problems related to the voter register and allegations of organized voter migration, for which CRTA’s Observation Mission had presented strong evidence. ODIHR points to the absence of effective oversight of voter records and changes of residence, concluding that trust in the voter register has been further undermined by the inadequate response of the competent institutions, including the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. ODIHR already emphasized in 2012 the need for a revision and greater transparency of the voter register, which is again included in this report.
The report also notes that the prosecution did not respond to numerous serious allegations of vote-buying and other forms of interference with voters’ will, and that the judiciary has not issued a single conviction for electoral crimes related to previous elections. The legal and regulatory framework did not ensure electoral equality.
ODIHR’s position is that the recommendations provided in this report should be considered together with recommendations from previous reports, especially those that remain unimplemented.
Seven priority recommendations from the new report were mostly already addressed to Serbia in 2012 and are still considered unfulfilled today. We remind that ODIHR has previously assessed that only four priority recommendations have been implemented over the past 10 years.
It is noteworthy that one of ODIHR’s recommendations once again concerns the position of election observers. The report states that conditions must be ensured for unhindered election observation and that intimidation and pressure against observers must be prevented.
Concerns were again raised about schemes of voter intimidation, pressure on employees in the public sector, and the misuse of public resources. It was also assessed that citizens did not have sufficient opportunities to vote on the basis of well-informed choices, due to inadequate reporting by the majority of national media outlets.
It is also very significant that ODIHR, although it did not observe the Belgrade elections, highlighted problems related to the voter register and allegations of organized voter migration, for which CRTA’s Observation Mission had presented strong evidence. ODIHR points to the absence of effective oversight of voter records and changes of residence, concluding that trust in the voter register has been further undermined by the inadequate response of the competent institutions, including the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. ODIHR already emphasized in 2012 the need for a revision and greater transparency of the voter register, which is again included in this report.
The report also notes that the prosecution did not respond to numerous serious allegations of vote-buying and other forms of interference with voters’ will, and that the judiciary has not issued a single conviction for electoral crimes related to previous elections. The legal and regulatory framework did not ensure electoral equality.
ODIHR’s position is that the recommendations provided in this report should be considered together with recommendations from previous reports, especially those that remain unimplemented.
Seven priority recommendations from the new report were mostly already addressed to Serbia in 2012 and are still considered unfulfilled today. We remind that ODIHR has previously assessed that only four priority recommendations have been implemented over the past 10 years.
It is noteworthy that one of ODIHR’s recommendations once again concerns the position of election observers. The report states that conditions must be ensured for unhindered election observation and that intimidation and pressure against observers must be prevented.
