Third Regular Press Conference of the Republic Electoral Commission

At the third regular press conference of the Republic Electoral Commission, held on 25 October 2026 at 1.05 pm, the Director of the Republic Statistical Office Branko Josipovic reported that the voter turnout by noon on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, without Kosovo-Metohija, was 34.55% of the total number of registered voters.

In the region of Vojvodina, the voter turnout was 38.08%, in the region of Sumadija and Western Serbia 32.56%, the region of Southern and Eastern Serbia 31.96% and in the Belgrade region 35.23%.

The Chairperson of the Republic Electoral Commission Vladimir Dimitrijevic said that so far at all of the polling stations the elections are being conducted in the best possible order. Incidents and disagreements are generally resolved at the polling station itself, and if they cannot be resolved, law enforcement authorities are responsible for responding.

Dimitrijevic said that one incident was recorded at polling station 25 in Doljevac, where voting was interrupted. The police were informed of everything, reacted, took statements from the participants in this incident, and voting has resumed.

Dimitrijevic went on to say that at certain polling stations in Serbia, there have been disagreements among the members of the polling boards at the polling stations themselves. This concerns ensuring the secrecy of the vote at the polling station. Certain members of the polling boards, contrary to the law and the instructions of the Republic Electoral Commission, are tying back or removing the curtains on booth-shaped screens. The Commission Chairman appealed to all bodies conducting the elections at the polling stations that the curtain must be drawn while the voter is filling out the ballot, because if it remains open, it can be seen who the voter is voting for, and the secrecy of the vote could be compromised. "Therefore, no one is allowed to approach the booth, move, or open the curtain while a voter is voting," Dimitrijevic emphasised, noting that this is clearly prescribed by the Law on the Election of Members of Parliament, and that voting is secret and private. Also, in accordance with Article 5 of the Instruction of the Republic Electoral Commission on the Arrangement of Polling Stations, the polling board is obliged to ensure the secrecy of the vote. Dimitrijevic pointed out that the Instructions on Unified Standards of the Republic Electoral Commission prescribe that the front of the booth is a curtain made of opaque cloth, and that the curtain must be drawn so that no one can see how the voter voted. This is a message to all members of the polling boards.

In addition, at certain polling stations, the destruction of UV lamps for checking voters' fingers was reported, and the spilling of sprays by members of the polling boards was also recorded. The Commission Chairperson stated that such actions are absolutely prohibited and are punishable under Articles 159 and 162 of the Criminal Code. He pointed out that today the members of the polling boards are acting in the capacity of state authority officials, with special powers and duties, and he therefore requested that such incidents and the individuals responsible be documented so that appropriate action may be taken subsequently in accordance with the law.

The press conference was also attended by the Secretary of the Republic Electoral Commission Srdjan Smiljanic.

The next press conference will be held at 3.05 pm.