Update
Voter register audit Commission distances itself from the Go...
A week after the Government’s IT Office reported a near-complete match between the voter regis...
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published its interim report on the 25 October early parliamentary elections on 9 October 2026, covering the period from 16 September to 7 October. The mission, headed by Eoghan Murphy, consists of a core team of 14 experts in Belgrade and 30 long-term observers deployed across the country, and ODIHR has requested 300 short-term observers for election day. According to the report, the elections are taking place against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis and deepening polarization, which increasingly affects the functioning of state institutions.
Legal framework
The electoral legal framework has been substantially amended four times since the last parliamentary elections, and some amendments address previous ODIHR recommendations in full or in part. However, "several previous ODIHR recommendations, including priority ones, remain unaddressed", notably those concerning intimidation and pressure on voters, sanctions and oversight of campaign and campaign finance violations, aspects of the misuse of state resources, the independence and effective oversight of the media regulator, the safety of journalists, and restrictions on voting rights. Several interlocutors raised concerns about the inclusiveness of the consultations, the adoption of some amendments shortly before the elections, and their consistent implementation in good faith.
Election administration and voter register
The Republic Electoral Commission (REC) has so far met all legal deadlines, and its sessions are streamed online and open to media and observers. Nevertheless, some interlocutors at national and local level expressed concerns about the impartiality and political neutrality of the election administration, as well as about the integrity of out-of-country and mobile voting.
On the voter register, which contains around 6.5 million voters, numerous stakeholders raised concerns about unusually high numbers of voters registered in some municipalities and at certain addresses. The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government has not publicly explained these discrepancies or indicated whether they are being examined, and told ODIHR that these were politically biased claims. The Commission for the Audit of the Voter Register is due to submit its first report by 28 October; several of its members stated that they received only partial access to the relevant data in mid-August.
On the voter register, which contains around 6.5 million voters, numerous stakeholders raised concerns about unusually high numbers of voters registered in some municipalities and at certain addresses. The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government has not publicly explained these discrepancies or indicated whether they are being examined, and told ODIHR that these were politically biased claims. The Commission for the Audit of the Voter Register is due to submit its first report by 28 October; several of its members stated that they received only partial access to the relevant data in mid-August.
Campaign and campaign finance
The campaign is described as of moderate intensity but highly polarized, with list representatives reporting numerous cases of intimidation of their activists and isolated incidents of violence. Electoral contestants and civil society organizations raised concerns about what they consider misuse of public resources, including one-off payments to adult citizens totaling nearly EUR 1 billion, decided at the end of August, and about significant disparities in campaign resources favouring the ruling party. Many interlocutors expressed concern about online disinformation and manipulative content, amplified in particular by mainstream media and public officials, while no institution is mandated to oversee the online campaign.
Amendments adopted in 2026 introduced campaign spending limits for the first time and regulated third-party campaigning. While many interlocutors welcomed the changes, they assessed that their practical implementation has so far been limited and that the Agency for Prevention of Corruption (ACAS) has yet to take timely enforcement action during the campaign. By 7 October, ACAS had issued warnings to 17 public officials.
Amendments adopted in 2026 introduced campaign spending limits for the first time and regulated third-party campaigning. While many interlocutors welcomed the changes, they assessed that their practical implementation has so far been limited and that the Agency for Prevention of Corruption (ACAS) has yet to take timely enforcement action during the campaign. By 7 October, ACAS had issued warnings to 17 public officials.
Media
The public broadcaster and four national private broadcasters are, according to the report, perceived as pro-government and pro-SNS. Journalists' associations reported attacks, intimidation, smear campaigns and obstruction of reporting. The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) began monitoring 11 television broadcasters using its 2023 sample, and a proposal to expand the sample to include Informer TV was rejected in a four-to-four vote.
Domestic observers
Domestic observer organizations reported public pressure and physical and verbal attacks by representatives of the incumbent parties, and raised concerns about the safety of their observers.
As of 7 October, the REC had accredited three domestic observer groups and two international organizations. According to the report, CRTA and CeSID have begun nationwide long-term observation and intend to deploy observers on election day. Some civil society representatives described "an increasingly hostile and intimidating environment for civil society that discourages citizen engagement" and creates challenges for independent observation. Domestic observer organizations reported public pressure and physical and verbal attacks by representatives of the incumbent parties, and raised concerns about the safety of their observers. The report refers to physical attacks on domestic observers in Mionica in November 2025 and in Bor in March 2026.
The report also records that on 29 September, Aleksandar Vučić criticized one of the domestic observer organizations on TV Informer, describing it as representing "Western services" and alleging its active involvement in a "colour revolution". The organization he was referring to is CRTA.
