Half Million Voters Lacking Addresses

An audit found that approximately 500,000 registered voters in Serbia lack complete street addresses ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for October 25.

RFE/RL's Balkan Service identified these gaps in the voter roll. Many records are missing specific street names or house numbers. The investigation also located hundreds of voters listed at public facilities like social welfare centers. Other entries appear at residential addresses that could not logically house so many people.

Aleksandar Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for fourteen years, is seeking the prime ministership. He resigned as president in late September to avoid a third term. His ruling party faces a challenge from an opposition movement born of student protests. Vladimir Bilcik, a former European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, called this the first genuinely uncertain election in over a decade.

The vote occurs just days before the second anniversary of the Novi Sad tragedy. On November 1, 2024, a railway station canopy collapsed and killed sixteen people. The disaster sparked nationwide protests over corruption in the construction project. Authorities used police force and arrests to manage the demonstrations. In March 2025, officials allegedly deployed a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters.

The government claims it has implemented all recommendations from the OSCE's 2023 observation mission. An interim OSCE report contradicted this claim. The organization has deployed 300 observers to Serbia. RFE/RL also noted an increase in eligible voters in Bosnia and Kosovo. Four employees of Serbia-funded institutions in Kosovo reported pressure to support the ruling party. This practice was also documented in several Serbian municipalities.

Allegations of illegal surveillance complicate the political climate. A US Senate Foreign Relations Committee statement on October 21 cited reports of monitoring opposition members. Research by the Serbian nonprofit SHARE and Toronto University found at least sixteen cases of Pegasus software use in 2026. This software is illegal in Serbia. Government officials denied targeting political rivals.

Freedom House reports a decline in Serbian freedoms over the past decade. US lawmakers have warned of active Russian involvement in the election. The European Parliament raised concerns about Russian influence operations. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson stated that Russia is deploying resources to disrupt Serbian citizens. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed personal support for Vucic. Serbia has not opened a new EU accession chapter since late 2021. Democratic backsliding and unresolved relations with Kosovo remain cited reasons for this impasse.