Audit Flags Half-Million Flawed Voter Records as Serbia Heads to Polls

Roughly 500,000 registered voters in Serbia lack complete home addresses, according to a new investigation by RFE/RL. The records are missing street names or house numbers, creating potential confusion for voters heading to the polls on October 25. This discovery adds to a growing list of concerns about the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary vote.

Aleksandar Vucic, who has held power in Serbia for fourteen years, is running for prime minister. He resigned as president in late September to avoid a third term in that office. His opponent is a student-led opposition movement that gained momentum after nationwide protests. Vucic previously served as prime minister from 2014 to 2017.

The voter roll issues mirror problems from the 2023 election. International observers then reported that voters were transported from neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also documented instances of intimidation at polling stations. The current register lists hundreds of voters at public facilities, including social welfare centers. Some residential addresses appear unable to hold the number of people assigned to them.

The election takes place just days before the second anniversary of the Novi Sad tragedy. On November 1, 2024, a railway station canopy collapsed and killed sixteen people. Protests followed, fueled by corruption allegations surrounding a Chinese-led construction project. Authorities used police force against demonstrators on March 15, 2025. On that day, officials allegedly deployed a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters.

Vladimir Bilcik, a former European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, called this the first election in over a decade with an uncertain outcome. The student opposition does not have a single formal leader. Their candidate list is headed by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic. The movement stated that Srdanovic will not automatically become prime minister if they win.

The government claims it fixed all issues raised by the OSCE after the 2023 vote. The OSCE interim report contradicts that claim. The organization has deployed 300 observers to Serbia. RFE/RL found that the number of eligible voters in Bosnia and Kosovo increased before the election. Four employees of Serbia-funded institutions in Kosovo told RFE/RL they faced pressure to vote for the ruling party.

Allegations of illegal surveillance have also intensified. A US Senate Foreign Relations Committee statement on October 21 cited reports of monitoring opposition members. Research by the nonprofit SHARE and Toronto University found that Pegasus software, which is illegal in Serbia, was used in at least sixteen cases in 2026. Government officials denied targeting political rivals. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Vucic. Congressman Joe Wilson said Russia is deploying resources to monitor Serbian citizens and the student movement.

Serbia has not opened a new EU accession chapter since late 2021. The main reasons for this stall include democratic backsliding, unresolved relations with Kosovo, and the refusal to sanction Russia. Vucic pledged to maintain his foreign policy course. The student movement opposes sanctions and supports Belgrade's stance on Kosovo.