tolerable, but also those who are not regular voters or who do not come out to vote or
do it only occasionally.
This can be interpreted in multiple ways. Firstly, one explanation can be that voters who do
not support the direction taken by Serbia (traditionally belonging to the body of voters
dissatisfied with policies and the situation in society, vote for the opposition and generally
distrust institutions107) more often identify or recognize certain actions as unauthorized
pressures, or reflect their general dissatisfaction on the electoral process to a greater extent.
On the other hand, considering the specific circumstances under which the previous elections
were held, it can also be interpreted as if those voters who are generally dissatisfied with
political goings-on or who lack clear political affiliation were more often targeted and
encouraged to make a certain decision in the elections. Finally, and in relation to what was
previously stated, since there was virtually no uncertainty about the results in the last elections,
but the greater focus was on the turnout108, it is certain that voters who traditionally do not
support the direction Serbia is moving in felt more pressured to act in a certain way and to
make an election decision accordingly.
If percentages of those respondents who said that they or their immediate family members
had been subjected to pressure several times during the June 2020 elections, taking into account
two criteria - (1) the total number of voters registered in the single electoral register
in the June 2020 elections - 6,584,376 and (2) the 2019 adult population estimate,
according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia - 5,736,716, we get the following
data on the maximum possible range of respondents exposed to pressures at least once - table
4.3.10.2.2.
Table 4.3.10.2.2. The maximum projected range of citizens exposed several times to pressures
during the June 2020 election cycle
Claim (June 2020 elections)
% of
respondents
(reply: ‘yes,
several times’)
Absolute
number
compared to
the total
number of
registered
voters (REC,
2020)109
Absolute
number
compared
adult
population
estimate
(SORS,
2019)110
...were you promised that you or someone close to
you will get a job if you support a political party
3.5
230,453
200,785
...were you promised that you will receive financial
compensation if you support a political party
0.6
39,506
34,420
Based on previous CeSID surveys.
In the context of a major part of the opposition political parties and movements boycotting the election.
109 Report on the overall results of the Elections for MPs to the National Assembly, NEC, 2020 Available at:
https://www.rik.parlament.gov.rs/tekst/9386/ukupni-rezultati-izbora-za-narodne-poslanike-narodne-skupstine-2020-godine.php
110 2021 Statistical calendar of the Republic of Serbia, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, page 34. Available at
https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2021/Pdf/G202117014.pdf
107
108
77