{"id":43729,"date":"2025-07-30T17:06:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T15:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crta.rs\/?p=43729"},"modified":"2025-09-03T17:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:30:08","slug":"the-next-elections-will-be-held-without-the-necessary-audit-of-the-voter-registry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crta.rs\/en\/the-next-elections-will-be-held-without-the-necessary-audit-of-the-voter-registry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next Elections Will Be Held Without the Necessary Audit of the Voter Registry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everything the authorities have done so far indicates that an independent, effective audit of the voter registry will not be carried out before the next elections. The task will remain necessary to complete under different political circumstances \u2013 this was one of the messages from today\u2019s public discussion on problems with the voter registry, held in Belgrade and organized by CRTA.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an absolutely clear public and state interest for Serbia to have an accurate voter registry, protected from abuse, and that interest must be placed above all particular, party interests. The intention of any party to secure control over the process of auditing the voter registry for itself is not legitimate and does not demonstrate a genuine will to reach a comprehensive solution,\u201d said Pavle Dimitrijevi\u0107, head of CRTA\u2019s legal team.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ongoing electoral reform processes are merely a simulation through which the authorities are trying to gain political points with international actors. The draft legal amendments being imposed by the authorities \u2014 which, in six versions, have been brought close to CRTA\u2019s proposal \u2014 still fail to provide the necessary independence and integrity of the commission for the audit of the voter registry, nor do they define all the specific powers that would ensure its work delivers results.<\/span><\/p>\n

By contrast, CRTA\u2019s draft law, based on the depth of the problem that was most visibly exposed during the December 2023 elections, prescribes extremely strict criteria for validating the voter registry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The audit commission must be independent in its work, composed of experts of unquestionable integrity, and equipped with broad powers and access to state data \u2014 from access to civil registries and other relevant databases, to the ability to verify the security of the software, initiate field checks and supervise their implementation, and even to launch proceedings against those who commit unlawful acts related to the voter registry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The commission\u2019s work would also have to be transparent. CRTA\u2019s proposal is that it be composed of three members each nominated by the authorities, the opposition, and civil society, with decisions made by a two-thirds majority and with at least two votes required from each group \u2014 nearly consensus.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Public discussion on audit of the voter registry<\/p><\/div>\n

The discussion also addressed abuses of the voter registry recorded in earlier election cycles, such as manipulation of voter identities and status, fictitious residences and dual citizenships, manipulations within the software itself, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the likelihood that, once the flawed Law on Amendments to the Unified Voter Registry is adopted, the authorities will attempt to manipulate the public with some sort of cosmetic audit, it is essential that problems and solutions related to the voter registry be the subject of dialogue among democratic forces in society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s event was attended by representatives of civil society, political parties, the academic community, students, citizens\u2019 assemblies, and the media.<\/span><\/p>\n

A recording of the event can be viewed here.<\/span><\/p>\n