Serbs in America can vote in the elections in Serbia: Here is until when the registration lasts and what is required
Serbian citizens who live or are currently staying in the United States of America will be able to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia, scheduled for October 25, 2026, is prior registration necessary for voting abroad.
According to the official notification of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, the deadline for submitting applications expires at midnight on October 3, 2026, Serbian time, what is 6:00 PM local time in Washington.
This means that citizens of Serbia living in the US should not wait until the last moment, especially if they are sending documentation by mail.
Who can vote in America?
The right to vote is held by adult and legally competent citizens of the Republic of Serbia who, at the time of the announcement of the elections, had registered permanent residence on the territory of Serbia.
The voter must be registered in Unified Voter Register, and citizens who are not registered can simultaneously submit a registration request and a request declaring that they wish to vote abroad.
It is important to emphasize that previous voting in America is not enough. Even citizens who registered to vote in previous elections must submit a new application for the October 25 elections.
What documents are required?
Along with the completed and signed request, it is necessary to submit a copy valid passport of the Republic of Serbia or valid ID card. In the case of an ID card with a chip, a scanned/read ID card may be submitted.
The request states, among other things, the voter's name and surname, the name of one parent, the personal identification number (JMBG), the municipality or city and residential address in Serbia, as well as the country, city, and address of residence abroad. The request must be signed.
Citizens are advised to check whether they are already enrolled in the Unified Electoral Roll before applying.
Verification of registration in the Unified Electoral Roll
How to apply from the US?
The Embassy of Serbia in Washington has made it possible for the completed and signed form, along with the required documentation, to be submitted by email, regular mail, or in person at the Embassy.
When sending documents electronically, they must be scanned and attached to the email in PDF format. The Embassy specifically warns that regular photos of documents are not of sufficient quality for this procedure.
For applications sent by mail, the deadline is even more important – the Embassy states that the shipment must arrive by 4:00 PM Washington time on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the latest.
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia is located at 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Official notice from the Embassy of Serbia in Washington and application forms
Where will Serbs in America vote?
The application for voting abroad alone does not automatically mean that a polling station will be opened at every location in the US.
Following voter registration and the determination of polling stations, the competent authority shall issue a decision recording in the Unified Voter Register that the citizen will vote according to their place of residence abroad and determining the polling station where they may vote.
Because of this, it is especially important that citizens of Serbia across the US submit their applications on time and contact the competent diplomatic and consular mission.
When the information that a voter will vote abroad is officially entered into the voter register, for that election they are not included in the extract from the voter register according to their place of residence in Serbia, but rather in the extract for the corresponding polling station abroad.
Elections in Serbia on October 25th
Parliamentary elections in Serbia have been called for Sunday, October 25, 2026, while the deadline for registration of voters who want to vote abroad October 3.
For the numerous Serbian community in the United States, this means that just over three weeks remain to complete the application. Special attention should be paid to the deadline by citizens in areas with a large Serbian diaspora, including Chicago and the surrounding area, New York, Washington, and other parts of the US.
Citizens are advised not to leave their registration for the last day, but to check their status in the voter register as soon as possible and contact the competent diplomatic and consular mission of Serbia.
Source: Chicago Events And Photo: ChatGPT
