Serbian embassies around the world have commenced informing citizens residing abroad about the procedures for registering to vote in the upcoming extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. The embassies are emphasizing the importance of timely applications, which must be submitted by October 3, five days before the electoral roll closes in Serbia.
In the United States, the Serbian Embassy has reached out to citizens with registered residences in Serbia, encouraging them to submit their applications to the nearest diplomatic or consular office. The deadline for submission is midnight on October 3, local time in Serbia, or 6 PM in Washington, D.C. To vote abroad, citizens must submit an application regardless of whether they have registered for previous elections. The application process requires a completed and signed form, accompanied by a copy of a valid passport or ID card, or a scanned ID card with a chip. These documents can be sent to the Serbian Embassy in Washington via email, postal mail, or delivered in person during business hours from Monday to Friday.
Similarly, the Serbian Embassy in London has issued a notice stating that Serbian citizens with voting rights, who are not listed in the Unified Electoral Roll (JBS), must apply for inclusion in the JBS in Serbia simultaneously with their request to vote abroad. This can be done directly through Serbia’s eGovernment portal if the individual has an account and a qualified electronic certificate, or via the ConsentID mobile application. Those already listed in the JBS can submit their request to vote abroad by providing a copy of their valid biometric ID or passport. Applications can be sent to the embassy via email or delivered in person or by registered mail.
In Germany, the Serbian Embassy advises citizens to verify which diplomatic-consular office is responsible for their area of residence—Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, or Hamburg—before applying. This ensures they can vote at the nearest Serbian diplomatic-consular office. Only citizens listed in the Unified Electoral Roll can vote abroad. If not listed, they must first apply for inclusion in the roll and simultaneously submit a request to vote abroad. The application must include a copy of the first page of a valid passport or both sides of a valid ID card, or a scanned ID card with a chip. Applications can be emailed, delivered in person, or sent by post to the Serbian Embassy in Berlin.
In Montenegro, the Serbian Embassy in Podgorica has announced that all Serbian citizens with registered residences in Serbia who wish to vote in Montenegro must submit a request to be listed in the electoral roll. The completed and signed form, along with a copy of a valid Serbian document, can be delivered in person, by mail, fax, or email. For further information, citizens can contact the embassy directly.
The Serbian Embassy in North Macedonia has also communicated that citizens can submit their requests to vote abroad to the Serbian Embassy in Skopje. The application, along with a copy of a valid passport or ID card, can be sent via email or delivered in person during specified hours.
These efforts by Serbian embassies aim to facilitate the participation of citizens living abroad in the upcoming elections, ensuring they can exercise their voting rights. The process underscores the importance of maintaining an updated electoral roll and the need for citizens to adhere to the application deadlines to ensure their participation in the democratic process.
