MORE THAN 70 IRREGULARITIES RECORDED AT POLLING STATIONS BY 9 A.M.

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 25 /SRNA/ - The Center for Free Elections and Democracy /CeSID/ said that more than 70 irregularities had been recorded at polling stations in Serbia’s early parliamentary elections by 9 a.m., based on information received from election observers.

The irregularities included delays in opening polling stations, problems with election materials, including shortages or surpluses of ballot papers, damaged ballot boxes, and difficulties involving the use of marking spray and UV lamps, CeSID said.

Cases were also recorded involving breaches of ballot secrecy, photographing ballot papers, the use of mobile phones, voting outside voting booths, and family and group voting.

According to observers, in one case a voter cast a ballot on behalf of another person and placed both ballot papers in the ballot box.

CeSID also recorded clashes among members of polling station committees, interruptions to voting, verbal altercations and threats against voters.

In some cases, the police were called, and voting at one polling station was temporarily suspended due to the presence of campaign material.

Particular attention was drawn to cases in which CeSID observers were denied access to polling stations, which, according to the organization, makes it more difficult to independently monitor and document the electoral process.

Reports requiring further verification also include problems with voter lists, including a case in which a voter was allegedly not registered despite having previously exercised their right to vote, as well as a report concerning a large number of voters with newly issued ID cards registered at the same address.

CeSID observers have been deployed to a representative sample of 750 polling stations across Serbia.