SERBS IN THE DIASPORA, REGISTER TO VOTE: Deadline expires on October 3, here is how to exercise your right to vote!

The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government has informed voters residing abroad that they can register until October 3 at midnight to vote in the diaspora for the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. The application is submitted through the diplomatic-consular representation of the Republic of Serbia, so that the fact that the voter will vote abroad is entered into the Unified Voters’ Register.

The request to vote abroad must contain the voter’s first and last name, the name of one parent, unique master citizen number (JMBG), municipality or city, and home address in Serbia, as stated on the Ministry’s website.

The voter is also obliged to state the country, municipality or city, and residential address abroad where they wish to vote, as well as to sign the request by hand.

The detail that the voter will vote abroad can only be entered if they are already registered in the Unified Voters’ Register. If not, the application for entry into the voters’ register can be submitted to the diplomatic-consular representation simultaneously with the request for voting abroad. If the request to vote abroad is approved, the voter will be registered in the excerpt from the voters’ register for the polling station abroad where they will vote, instead of the excerpt according to their place of residence in Serbia.

Certain diplomatic-consular representations have also published more detailed instructions for voter registration.

Thus, the Embassy of Serbia in Canberra stated that the request can be submitted in person, by regular mail, or by email, using the prescribed form, accompanied by a copy of a valid passport or ID card of the Republic of Serbia.

The Embassy of Serbia in Washington also stated that the completed and signed form, along with a copy of a valid passport or ID card, can be submitted electronically, by mail, or in person at the Embassy premises. It was especially emphasized that voters must re-register for voting abroad regardless of whether they registered for previous elections.

Voters residing in other countries can contact the nearest diplomatic-consular representation of the Republic of Serbia for information on registering to vote. The list of embassies and consulates, with their contact details, is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the previous parliamentary elections held on December 17, 2023, voting abroad was organized at 81 polling stations in 35 countries, according to data from the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK).

In the parliamentary elections a year earlier, in 2022, voting was held at 77 polling stations abroad. At that time, 39,777 voters were registered in the voters’ list for voting outside of Serbia, of whom 30,141 went out to vote.