An audit of the Voter Register is possible, but not under the conditions imposed by the government
Following a broad and public consultative process that involved representatives of both parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, civil society, the academic community, citizens’ assemblies, and other interested stakeholders, CRTA, taking into account ODIHR’s recommendations, finalized its proposal for the audit of the Unified Voter Register, which could serve as a foundation for revision and as a prerequisite for beginning to restore public trust in the official voter register.
At the same time, the government continues to impose its own legal solution, which, even after nine rounds of revisions in response to ODIHR’s comments, still fails to address the essential need for the independence and integrity of the commission that would carry out the voter register audit.
The government refuses to relinquish its intention to maintain control over the audit process, once again demonstrating that party interests are more important to it than the well-being of society as a whole. This prolonged exhaustion of the domestic public and international actors through superficial amendments risks leading the country into the next elections not only without a valid voter register, but with a legally sanctioned illusion that the problem has been solved and that electoral manipulation has been prevented.
The experience of the recent elections in Zaječar confirms the legitimacy of public distrust in a government that continues to deny the problems with the voter register as it was found that the register included deceased persons, internally displaced individuals, and citizens without registered residence necessary to vote in local elections, yet these findings failed to trigger the necessary institutional response.
The essence of CRTA’s proposal for the audit of the Unified Voter Register lies in the establishment of a professional nine-member commission with executive powers, with three members each nominated by the ruling majority, the parliamentary opposition, and civil society organizations, reflecting ODIHR’s emphasis on inclusivity and balance. Decision-making would require a majority of six votes, including at least two from each group, thus encouraging consensus in the public interest and preventing the dominance of any single side. The government refuses to acknowledge these essential requirements, firmly protecting its power to impose majority rule.
In the current context of eroding rule of law in Serbia, it is important to emphasize that not even the best law, including CRTA’s proposal, can guarantee the desired changes on its own. New legislation is necessary, but insufficient as long as there is no institutional framework ready to implement the solutions outlined on paper. The government obstructs the resolution of the voter register issue even at this crucial first step.
You can read the full proposed law here.
