CRTA observers attacked in the yard of the police station in Odzaci
The team of CRTA observers was attacked in Odzaci, after recording the case of electoral corruption, where dozens of ballots from the poll were brought to the political party offices, located across the polling station. As the CRTA mobile team of observers headed out to the police station to report this incident, they noticed to be followed by a vehicle. In the yard of the police station, unidentified persons left the vehicle and demolished the car of CRTA observers with bats. Attacked observers are currently in the police station giving a statement about the incident.
We call for the state institutions to ensure safety of voters and observers, and to allow for the election day to be conducted peacefully and without tensions. The occurrence of the attack on our observers even in the first half of the day raises fear.
Along with developments in Odzaci, the potential case of electoral corruption was recorded in Rusanj, in Cukarica municipality, and in Novi Beograd, where groups of voters were brough to polling stations, and handed envelopes after leaving polls, raising doubts in the occurrence of vote buying.
In front of several polling stations in Belgrade observers recorded parallel lists of voters, as well as the organized bringing of groups of voters to polls.
CRTA observers were restricted by polling boards to monitor the opening of polls at 17 polling stations (8 in Belgrade and 9 in Serbia), however they were allowed the access to polls after the intervention of the Republic Electoral Commission.
While the opening of polls occurred mainly in a peaceful atmosphere and in accordance with established procedures, 9 percent of polling station in Serbia and in Belgrade was opened with the delay. Members of the permanent composition of polling boards were not present at the opening of polls on significant number of polling stations in Serbia (19 percent) and in almost a quarter of polls in Belgrade (23 percent).
In addition, a total of 3 percent of polling stations in Serbia and 5 percent in Belgrade were not prepared in accordance with established procedures. At more than 2 percent of polling stations in Belgrade ballot boxes were not presented to first voters before being sealed. Bags with voting material were adequately secured when received at almost all polling stations, both in Serbia and in Belgrade.
A total of 9,8 percent of citizens voted in parliamentary elections by 10:00 (margin of error 0.4 percent). In comparison, voter turnout by 10:00 at the 2022 parliamentary elections was 10 percent.
Voter turnout at parliamentary elections on the territory of Belgrade by 10:00 amounts to 9,6 percent (margin of error 0.1 percent), which is higher than in 2022 when the turnout in Belgrade was 8,4 percent in this period.
A total of 6.500.666 citizens registered in the Voters’ List have the right to vote in republic elections, and 1.613.369 voters in Belgrade.
CRTA election observation mission has 3.000 observers, trained in accordance with the highest international standards, who monitor the election day. Observers are deployed at polling stations from the very preparation of polls for opening at 6am, until the official announcement of election results by polling boards, ensuring the complete overview of developments at polling stations. Mobile teams of observers are deployed to monitor developments in front of polling stations.
CRTA reports on the conduct of parliamentary and Belgrade elections on the basis of two random samples of polling stations, representative for Serbia (500 polls) and Belgrade (500 polls).
Polling stations in Vranje, Kursumlija, Raska and Tutin, designated for voters from Kosovo and Metohija, are not included in the CRTA’s sample for Serbia, however CRTA observers collect the information on the voting process at these polls as well.
CRTA does not have observers deployed to monitor the voting process at polling stations abroad nor in the correctional facilities.
The regular media conference of the CRTA election observation mission is scheduled for 16:30. You may follow the conference live at the CRTA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
