Vucic Runs for Prime Minister as Audit Finds 500,000 Voter Files Incomplete
Two days before the vote, new data reveals gaps in the electoral register that cast doubt on the fairness of the contest.
By Kateryna Melnyk ·
Fifty thousand Serbian voter records lack complete street addresses, a flaw identified in a new audit just days before the October 25 parliamentary election.
The discovery intensifies scrutiny on Aleksandar Vucic, who is seeking the prime minister's office after resigning as president in late September. This marks his first major contest since leaving the presidency, ending a fourteen year run of political dominance.
Vucic stepped down from the presidential seat in late September to avoid seeking a third term. He is now running for the premiership, a role he previously held between 2014 and 2017. His opponent is a movement born from student protests, which lacks formal leaders and fields a list of nonpartisan figures.
The path to this election began in November 2024 when a renovated canopy at the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing sixteen people. The tragedy sparked nationwide protests alleging corruption at the site, a project led by Chinese businesses. Police responses to these demonstrations included arrests and, on March 15, 2025, the reported use of a sonic weapon against peaceful demonstrators.
Following another student protest in June, Vucic announced his resignation and scheduled these early elections. The student opposition is now headed by cardiologist Ilija Srdanovic, though the movement has stated that his position does not automatically secure the premiership if they win.
Recent investigations found that roughly 500,000 individuals registered to vote are missing specific street names or house numbers. Hundreds of other voters are listed at public facilities like social welfare centers or residential addresses that could not logically hold so many people. These irregularities mirror concerns from the 2023 election, where observers noted the transport of voters from Bosnia and instances of intimidation.
The OSCE deployed 300 observers to Serbia for this vote. An interim report from the organization contradicted government claims that all recommendations from previous missions had been implemented. Further issues emerged as the number of eligible voters in Bosnia and Kosovo increased before the vote. These regions are key sources of support for Vucic's Progressive Party. Four employees of Serbia funded institutions in Kosovo reported facing pressure to vote for the ruling party, a practice also seen in several Serbian municipalities.
Allegations of illegal surveillance have complicated the political climate. A statement from the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee on October 21 cited reports of illegal monitoring of opposition members. Research by the Serbian nonprofit SHARE and Toronto University researchers alleged that at least sixteen cases of the Pegasus surveillance software, which is illegal in Serbia, were used in 2026. Government officials have denied targeting political rivals with the spying.
International observers note a decline in freedoms in Serbia over the past decade, a trend confirmed by the latest Freedom House report. Some US lawmakers have warned that Moscow may play an active role in the election. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson stated that Russia is deploying resources to monitor and disrupt Serbian citizens and the student movement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally expressed support for Vucic ahead of the ballot.
Source: RFE/RL
