ODIHR Begins Work in Serbia, Seeks 332 Election Observers

The main team of the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) began work in Serbia today, September 16, ahead of the snap parliamentary election scheduled for October 25. The mission’s arrival was announced on September 14 by Vladimir Dimitrijevic, chairman of the Republic Election Commission, at a commission session where CeSID was also accredited to observe the election on the same day.

The core team’s arrival continues a process that began in July. ODIHR’s needs assessment mission stayed in Belgrade from July 6 to 10, led by Ulvi Ahundlu, deputy head of the office’s Election Department, together with election adviser Martina Barker Ciganikova. Their report recommended a full observation mission built around a team of experts, 32 long term observers to follow the election process across the country, and 300 short term observers for election day itself.

Long term and short term observers are sent by OSCE participating states, and members of the mission’s core team are expected to be engaged for roughly eight weeks. The deadline for candidates applying to that core team closed on August 24 at 6 p.m. Central European Time. ODIHR has observed 18 elections in Serbia so far, most recently the 2024 local elections.

What deadlines apply before the election

The deadline for domestic observers to register with the Republic Election Commission is October 17, while the deadline for international organizations and missions is shorter, October 14. The commission accredited CeSID at the same session at which ODIHR’s arrival was announced.

At that session the commission also certified the electoral list “Ivica Dacic: Factor of Stability,” made up of four parties led by the Socialist Party of Serbia, and appointed members and deputy members to the commission’s expanded composition from the list “Aleksandar Vucic: United Serbia.”

Dimitrijevic explained the mission’s upcoming arrival to commission members.

“This mission will begin its activities on September 16,” Dimitrijevic said at the session of the Republic Election Commission.

Voting on October 25 itself runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The campaign silence period begins at midnight on October 22 and lasts until 8 p.m. on election day. The Republic Election Commission publishes its aggregate results report within 96 hours of polling stations closing, and parliamentary seats are assigned within 10 days of that report’s publication.