SHOCKING DISCOVERY: Zaječar Voter Roll Includes Deceased, IDPs, and Voters Without Residence! (PHOTO)

Data from the record of the extraordinary inspection supervision by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, which N1 had access to, confirms that the Unified Voter Register in Zaječar, as of July 2 and 3 – just one day before the total report on election results in that city was finalized – includes deceased individuals, internally displaced persons not registered as such in Zaječar, and individuals found to be registered based on residence who actually do not have residence in the territory of Zaječar.

Inspection Reveals Multiple Irregularities

Based on the data from the record of the extraordinary inspection supervision by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, which N1 had access to, it was determined that the Unified Voter Register in Zaječar, as of July 2 and 3 – just one day before the total report on election results in that city was finalized – contained deceased individuals, internally displaced persons (IDPs) not registered as such in Zaječar, and individuals found to be registered based on residence who actually do not have residence in the territory of Zaječar.

As stated in the record signed by Miladinka Đurđević, administrative inspector of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, the extraordinary inspection supervision was carried out on July 2 and 3, 2025, in the official premises of the Zaječar City Administration, following a complaint filed by the opposition list “Change We Believe In” on June 24.

The record states that based on the established facts and direct insight into a portion of the voter register, multiple illegalities were identified, and measures and deadlines for their rectification were proposed.

Namely, the sample controlled by the administrative inspector found that internally displaced persons who do not have IDP status in the territory of Zaječar were illegally registered in the Unified Voter Register. This means these individuals were not registered as IDPs in Zaječar, even though that is the only basis for their inclusion in the voter register.

The finding also shows that the Zaječar voter register includes individuals who do not have registered residence in the city’s territory, and that deceased individuals were also present in the voter register on the day of the inspection.

The inspection finding also indicates that in the examined sample, five individuals were deleted from the voter register, and one was re-registered, though the basis for this re-registration is not stated, leaving it unclear. It is certain that the decisions on deletion were made between June 12 – immediately after the local elections held in that city on June 8 – and July 2.

Compromised Election Process

Sofija Mandić from the Center for Judicial Research, and a permanent member of the Republic Electoral Commission, told N1 that the inspection finding, coming from a state authority, is of multiple importance and likely shows “a part of what was happening on election day.”

“This only shows a part of the unlawful actions concerning the voter register, as we previously had information in the days after the elections that city administrations were ‘cleaning’ the voter register of illegal entries immediately after election day,” Mandić stated.

She added that it’s important to note that the inspector reviewed only a portion of the voter register, so it’s unknown whether this involves 100 or 1,000 registered individuals, but that it would certainly be important data that could indicate the scale of the illegal activity.

“What else we can conclude is that it’s excellent news that at least one inspector has appeared who reviewed the voter register and established facts that undoubtedly indicate the voter register is not in accordance with the law. This means that the election process, as well as the election result, are compromised and cannot be considered the true will of the voters in that city,” stated Sofija Mandić.

Legal Repercussions and Previous Complaints

Following the extraordinary inspection supervision, and in accordance with the Law on the Unified Voter Register, the City Administration of Zaječar has been ordered to take measures to rectify the identified illegalities, irregularities, and deficiencies within 7 to 15 days. Additionally, the inspection ordered the head of the Zaječar City Administration to submit a report on the rectification of the irregularities to the competent inspector.

Local elections in Zaječar were held on June 8, 2025. The opposition in that city filed 78 complaints with the City Election Commission (GIK) and later with the Higher Court in that city, citing numerous irregularities, but all of them were rejected.

The Crta observation mission also filed a total of 11 criminal charges with the Basic and Higher Public Prosecutor’s Offices, Special Departments for Suppression of Corruption, against presidents and members of polling station committees, as well as certain observers, due to well-founded suspicion that they jeopardized the integrity of the election process at several polling stations in Zaječar and Kosjerić during the local elections held on June 8, the organization announced.

What the Law Says

“The Law on Local Elections is unequivocal and states that only a voter who has permanent residence in the territory of the local self-government unit has the right to elect councilors. Potentially allowing individuals who do not have that right to vote would be a violation of the law,” says Rodoljub Šabić.