The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM) call on municipal election commissions (MECs) to allow independent media outlets and all media professionals to report on the work of the commissions and the electoral process. IJAS and AIEM recall that, under the applicable law, municipal election commissions are required to ensure that their sessions are public and transparent, without discrimination against reporters or the media outlets they work for. To enter and monitor proceedings at polling stations, however, permission from the polling board is required, while journalists are not allowed to compromise the secrecy of the vote, record voter lists, or photograph citizens behind voting screens.
The Republic Electoral Commission (REC) has so far not issued any additional instructions regarding the monitoring of the work of municipal election commissions.
IJAS and AIEM warn that the Election Commission of the Municipality of Majdanpek has failed for more than two weeks to decide on the accreditation request submitted by journalist and editor of the Majdanpek Info portal, Martin Bežinarević, even though electoral activities are already under way. IJAS and AIEM consider the practice of delaying decisions and denying the public access to information about the work of the election commission to be unacceptable. IJAS and AIEM call on the Majdanpek Municipal Election Commission to approve the request without further delay and enable the journalist to monitor the work of the Commission during the electoral process.
A delay lasting several weeks does not contribute to a transparent and democratic electoral process, and administrative procedures must not be used as a means of restricting journalists’ work or the public’s right to information. IJAS and AIEM recall that Article 18 of the Rules of Procedure of the Election Commission of the Municipality of Majdanpek explicitly provides that the transparency of the Commission’s work is ensured, among other things, through the presence of accredited journalists.
“Instead of receiving a timely response, during this period I was referred back and forth between the Majdanpek Municipal Election Commission and the Republic Electoral Commission. After contacting the REC, I was informed that the local election commission was responsible for this matter. However, the Majdanpek MEC then once again insisted that it was not competent to issue accreditation. After I informed them that I would notify the Commissioner, journalists’ associations and the REC about the case, I was told that the request would be decided on ‘at the next session’, without any information as to when that session would be held.
They did not cite any specific legal provision requiring the entire Commission to vote on the accreditation of journalists. If every session were to include a decision on which media outlets may attend and which may not, this would open the door to dividing media into those deemed acceptable and those deemed unacceptable. There were no problems during the recent local elections, but now, when I applied again, I received a different response. I do not understand this change in practice over the course of just a few months,” Bežinarević told ANEM.
IJAS and AIEM call for a uniform interpretation of laws and regulations stipulating that the work of national and municipal authorities must be transparent and public, including the work of municipal election commissions.
