Third Regular Press Conference of the Republic Electoral Commission

17 December 2023

The Republic Electoral Commission held its third regular press conference on 17 December 2023, at 1.10 pm where the Director of the Republic Statistical Office Miladin Kovacevic reported the voter turnout, stating that, by noon on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, without Kosovo-Metohija, 21.33% of the total number of registered voters had taken the vote. 22.88% of eligible citizens had taken the vote in the region of Vojvodina, 19.58% in the region of Sumadija and Western Serbia, 22.21% in the region of Southern and Eastern Serbia and 20.77% in the Belgrade region.

The Chairperson of the Republic Electoral Commission Vladimir Dimitrijevic emphasised that the voting at all the polling stations is proceeding without problems for now, without a single physical conflict and with much fewer incidents than in all past election cycles, and that he would like to thank the members of the polling boards and the voters who exercise their right to vote.

"For all other "disputes" at social networks of various recordings allegedly observed people, women, mothers with babies in strollers and insinuations of voters coming to and from the polling station, it is all suspicious and I am really not going to comment. As far as all observer representatives are concerned, I would like them to properly enter their observations in their reports after the end of the voting and publish them, and not to post pictures and videos on social networks," Dimirijevic stressed.

He referred to the incident in which CRTA observer's car was destroyed, pointing out that the REC strongly condemns that incident, as well as that those responsible for the destruction of the car have been identified and detained, and that they will be sanctioned in accordance with the remit of other state authorities.

Regarding allegations of irregularities at polling station 27, in the settlement of Novi Gradski Centar in Bor, Dimitrijevic said that the polling station was not "moved overnight" but within the legal deadline, in accordance with the Decision on the designation of polling stations dated 8 November 2023.

Speaking about media allegations that an unidentified person offered money to voters at a polling station in the Municipality of Blace, Dimitrijevic stated that said person was brought in for questioning by the police.

The Chairmanof the Republic Electoral Commission pointed out that the public will be informed about any possible incident during the election day and requested that social networks not be used to spread misinformation.

The next press conference will be held at 3.05 pm