Following its systematic observation of the elections in previous three years, CRTA developed 60 detailed recommendations for improvement of electoral conditions, also available on the gradjaninastrazi.rs website. At the conference, CRTA presented the recommendations which could influence improvements if addressed by the 2020 elections and which enjoy the greatest citizen support.
CRTA presented recommendations for improvement of electoral conditions by 2020 at the conference held on March 25, 2019 at the Media Center Belgrade. Following its systematic observation of the elections in previous three years, CRTA developed 60 detailed recommendations for improvement of electoral conditions, also available on the gradjaninastrazi.rs website. At the conference, CRTA presented the recommendations which could influence improvements if addressed by the 2020 elections and which enjoy the greatest citizen support.
In the framework of the Open Parliament initiative, The Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA)
conducted the sixth consecutive “Audit of political engagement in Serbia” with the support of Ipsos Strategic Marketing.
First two audits (from 2013 and 2014) were supported by the British Embassy in Belgrade and National Democratic
Institute. The aim of this audit was to determine the level of the Serbian citizens’ readiness to participate in democratic processes
that imply a series of different forms of citizen participation – from voting at the elections to initiating particular
campaigns; and monitoring the changes of the degree of participation in time. This audit represents a particular overview of the democratic situation in society. The extent to which the citizens are
ready to engage in social processes, to exercise their civil rights and to influence the decision makers is an indicator of
“the state of health” of a society.
In this document, we have mentioned only those recommendations that CRTA believes could be implemented by the time of 2020 elections, with the help of the political will and understanding between the relevant actors, as these recommendations realisation would be an essential start for systematic and complete improvement of election process quality.
The electoral administration should move towards the professionalisation of the work as far as both electoral commissions and polling station committees are concerned. Electoral commissions ought to have greater authorities and to consist of jurists independent of political influences. Furthermore, the current way of conducting trainings of polling committees’ members does not produce the results expected in practice and should be therefore systematised and improved.
The electoral administration is often impelled to interpret various parallel laws and regulations which, given the low capacity of professional services, diminishes legal security in the area of electoral law and reduces the confidence of citizens in the electoral process. The electoral legislation should be codified into a single electoral code that would compile in one place all provisions from different laws directly related to the electoral process. Short deadlines foreseen for filing objections are one of the main causes that prevent voters from protecting their electoral rights.
Citizens’ mistrust in the election process is growing year by year. In order to reinstate the citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and in institutions implementing the elections, it is vital to improve transparency and openness of the entire electoral process. The citizens’ confidence might be reinstated if competent institutions, above all the Republic Electoral Commission, timely published all data relevant to the electoral process. Besides, the way in which institutions act upon citizens’ reports on irregularities during the elections should be improved. Serious deficiencies in the voters’ register, its administration and updates significantly affect the confidence of citizens in the electoral process.
Equality of participants in the election race depends not only on the unequal resources they have, which is the topic we addressed in the first part of recommendations for the improvement of the electoral conditions, but also on the institutional advantages that the election rules give to different participants, as well as the uneven coverage of candidates or representatives of the lists in media. Rules regulating the conduct of elections should guarantee equal conditions for all electoral contestants, including their equal representation in the media.
The prevention of the abuse of public resources in the electoral campaign is one of the most important fields when it comes to the improvement of the electoral process in Serbia. It is indispensable that the legislative framework and the practice in the Republic of Serbia harmonise with international standards and examples of good practice. It is necessary to prevent further abuse of taxpayers’ money during the electoral processes on the one hand and to exclude the possibility of public officials’ campaigning on the other, in order to ensure equality of all participants in the electoral race.
Our topics
Democratic culture
Because politics is not just for politicians. It is our human and citizen right to participate in the processes of making decisions which influence our lives. A dialogue has no alternative.
Free and fair elections
Because elections are the pillars of democracy. It is every citizen’s right to decide on whom to give his/her vote in free and fair conditions. Our vote is valuable and it can make a difference.
Open institutions
Because institutions serve the citizens. We need strong institutions with integrity which protect the public interest.
Free media
Because media should ask questions and critically analyse the reality. We need the media which protect the public interest and tackle the needs of the citizens.
