Elections held in an atmosphere of fear, extremely high tensions and under the threat of violence cannot be considered free. As on June 8, today in Kosjerić, where voting was repeated at polling station 25, conditions resembled a near state of siege. Therefore, the voting results cannot be viewed in isolation from the undemocratic atmosphere that marked both today’s election day and the election campaign.
Based on the counting of all ballots at polling station 25, the results are as follows: the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić received 197 votes (55.7%), United for Kosjerić received 153 votes (43.2%), the Russian Party received 0 votes, and there were 4 invalid ballots. Total turnout was 81.6%.
When combined with the results from all polling stations, the overall outcome is as follows: the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić received 3,758 votes (50.2%), United for Kosjerić received 3,568 votes (47.6%), the Russian Party received 48 votes, and there were 118 invalid ballots. In terms of seats, the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić won 14 mandates, while United for Kosjerić won 13 mandates. Total turnout reached 84.2%.
To reiterate, election day in Kosjerić was marked by the presence of large police forces, which shortly before the closing of polling stations were already equipped with riot control gear.
Throughout the day, a large number of citizens gathered outside polling station 25, including activists but also many men of threatening appearance and motorcyclists without or with covered license plates. The overall impression was that voting was taking place under strict control. Groups apparently organized to exert pressure occasionally entered into verbal confrontations with gathered citizens, while the police did not intervene, not even attempting to identify those individuals.
Inside the polling station, the voting process during the first part of the day generally followed prescribed procedures, but several irregularities were recorded, most frequently photographing ballots, as well as individual cases of assisted voting.
In the second half of the day, tensions also emerged inside the polling station. Some members of the polling board pressured an opposition-appointed member, attempting to dissuade her from recording objections in the official minutes.
During the vote count, around ten ballots were noticed in which the ruling party’s list had been circled in red or green ink, which may indicate vote monitoring or vote buying.
It is important to note that only electoral lists or voters from that polling station have the right to file objections. Observers are not granted that possibility under the law.
Based on the counting of all ballots at polling station 25, the results are as follows: the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić received 197 votes (55.7%), United for Kosjerić received 153 votes (43.2%), the Russian Party received 0 votes, and there were 4 invalid ballots. Total turnout was 81.6%.
When combined with the results from all polling stations, the overall outcome is as follows: the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić received 3,758 votes (50.2%), United for Kosjerić received 3,568 votes (47.6%), the Russian Party received 48 votes, and there were 118 invalid ballots. In terms of seats, the list We Will Not Give Up Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić won 14 mandates, while United for Kosjerić won 13 mandates. Total turnout reached 84.2%.
To reiterate, election day in Kosjerić was marked by the presence of large police forces, which shortly before the closing of polling stations were already equipped with riot control gear.
Throughout the day, a large number of citizens gathered outside polling station 25, including activists but also many men of threatening appearance and motorcyclists without or with covered license plates. The overall impression was that voting was taking place under strict control. Groups apparently organized to exert pressure occasionally entered into verbal confrontations with gathered citizens, while the police did not intervene, not even attempting to identify those individuals.
Inside the polling station, the voting process during the first part of the day generally followed prescribed procedures, but several irregularities were recorded, most frequently photographing ballots, as well as individual cases of assisted voting.
In the second half of the day, tensions also emerged inside the polling station. Some members of the polling board pressured an opposition-appointed member, attempting to dissuade her from recording objections in the official minutes.
During the vote count, around ten ballots were noticed in which the ruling party’s list had been circled in red or green ink, which may indicate vote monitoring or vote buying.
It is important to note that only electoral lists or voters from that polling station have the right to file objections. Observers are not granted that possibility under the law.
