Elections in Serbia

Elections in Serbia are held under constitutional and electoral rules. They are based on voting rights, equal treatment of voters, secret ballots, and the free expression of political choice. Election administration is carried out by designated electoral bodies, including the Republic Electoral Commission, commonly called RIK. Parliamentary elections choose members of the National Assembly, or Narodna skupština. Serbia uses a proportional system in which voters generally choose a party list or coalition list, and seats are distributed according to the support received under the applicable rules. Presidential elections choose the President of the Republic through a direct vote. If the required result is not reached in the first round, the legal system may provide for a further round between leading candidates. Local elections choose bodies and officeholders for municipalities and cities. Elections in the autonomous province of Vojvodina choose provincial representatives. These elections concern different responsibilities, so a voter may receive more than one ballot at the same time. Political parties, coalitions, and independent candidates present programs and candidates during the campaign. Campaigning may include meetings, media appearances, printed materials, online communication, and direct contact with voters, subject to election and public-order rules. Before voting, the voter should know the election being held, the candidates or lists on the ballot, and the assigned polling station. The electoral register and election notices are used to confirm a person's voting information, while election officials explain the voting procedure at the polling place. At the polling station, identity is checked, the ballot is issued, and the voter marks a choice in private. The ballot is then placed in the ballot box according to the instructions. A ballot may be invalid if it is marked in a way that does not clearly show the voter's choice. After polls close, polling-station commissions count ballots and record the result. Results are reviewed and published through the legally defined process, and complaints or challenges may be available when a participant believes that election rules were violated.