Workshop with ODIHR on Creating Information and Education Programme for Voters in the Republic of Serbia

Following the work of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the submission of its final Report on the conducted elections, the conditions have been met to continue working on this important project, which will also fulfil recommendation number 3 from the final Report of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The Republic Electoral Commission has during previous election cycles improved public information through various models and tools, but it is vital to introduce a more substantial and comprehensive voter education programme adapted to the needs of different groups, which would be implemented continuously outside of election cycles, which is something the ODIHR mission also recognised and stated in its Report.

The Commission is committed to the implementation of all elements that guarantee the improvement of the standards of the electoral process, which leads to the raising of awareness on the value and importance of free, secret and personal voting, i.e. the way of exercising the right to vote, and is directly related to increasing transparency, fairness and protecting the integrity of the electoral process, that is, of all the authorities involved in the implementation of elections.

After alignment, the proposal of the three-year Voter Information and Education Programme will be submitted for consideration and adoption at one of the coming Commission sessions. The programme will contain the standards and good practice of modern democratic societies and electoral systems, while respecting the expectations and needs of voters and all other interested parties in the Republic of Serbia.