Serbia's election commission plans new voting booths amid profit concerns

Serbia's Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) is proposing to introduce new, elaborate voting booths, officially to enhance ballot secrecy. However, critics are raising suspicions that the move is less about fair elections and more about creating lucrative public procurement opportunities for ruling party associates.

Jelena Jerinić, a law professor and member of the Green-Left Front, told N1 that while ballot secrecy is important, the timing and design of the new booths are questionable. The proposed booths feature aluminum structures, stand two meters high, are enclosed on three sides, and include a rear curtain with an internal LED strip. Jerinić estimates each booth could cost between 300 to 400 euros, leading to a massive public tender given over 8,000 polling stations in Serbia.

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I have no doubt it will be some of their companies, and it will be more expensive than in countries like Holland or Italy, where such booths exist.

"I have no doubt it will be some of their companies, and it will be more expensive than in countries like Holland or Italy, where such booths exist," Jerinić stated, pointing to a pattern of ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) affiliates profiting from state contracts. She argued that this expensive undertaking does not fundamentally improve electoral conditions, as core problems like vote buying, voter pressure, and the misuse of official positions for campaigning persist.

Jerinić also noted that electoral abuses, such as photographing ballots or ballot stuffing, can already occur with existing booths. She suggested that the new booths might even facilitate some of these illicit practices. "This purchase of booths is just a way to pull the wool over people's eyes, to say – look, ODIHR recommendations mention protecting ballot secrecy, so we are doing it. But we are doing it in a way that raises questions about whether Serbia is so well-off that it needs to spend money on expensive booths," she concluded. The RIK is scheduled to vote on the proposal tomorrow.

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This purchase of booths is just a way to pull the wool over people's eyes, to say – look, ODIHR recommendations mention protecting ballot secrecy, so we are doing it. But we are doing it in a way that raises questions about whether Serbia is so well-off that it needs to spend money on expensive booths.