--- title: "Serbia ties overseas voting hours to local time" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-06T15:25:15.251Z" source_reported: "2026-10-06T12:24:54.000Z" updated: "2026-10-06T15:25:15.251Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-07T10:45:08.182054+00:00" --- # Serbia ties overseas voting hours to local time *Decision means voters in Chicago and Australia face inconvenient voting times* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named commission members and officials, with some specific figures and locations. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and explains the context and implications of the decision. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use strong language like 'backlash' and 'middle of the night' without full substantiation. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Serbia's election commission has set overseas voting hours to align with Serbia's local time, rather than the local time in the countries where polling stations are located. - This decision means voters in places such as Chicago and Australia will face inconvenient voting hours, potentially requiring them to vote overnight. - The commission approved 93 polling stations abroad, with 28 located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. - Over 100,000 citizens have applied to vote from abroad, a significant increase from previous elections. Serbia's election commission has decided that overseas voting will adhere to the country's local time. This means that polling stations established in locations across the globe will operate between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Central European Time, regardless of the local time in those countries. This change is expected to create difficulties for Serbian citizens living abroad who wish to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election. The commission approved 93 polling stations for overseas voters, with a significant number, 28, designated for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision comes as over 100,000 citizens have applied to vote from abroad, a figure nearly three times higher than in the 2023 election. Critics argue that the commission has not adequately addressed requests for more polling stations in key diaspora hubs such as North America, Australia, and Europe. ## Disagreement on polling station allocation While My Mother Lode reports that the election commission approved 93 polling stations overseas, with nine of them in neighbouring Bosnia, other reports indicate a different number of polling stations in Bosnia. The Associated Press, as reported by multiple outlets, states that nine of the polling stations are in Bosnia, while My Mother Lode specifies 28 polling stations in Bosnia, making up nearly 30% of the overseas total. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific number of polling stations approved for Bosnia and Herzegovina, only that nine were in Bosnia. The centre-rated reports mention 28 polling stations in Bosnia. The right-rated digest does not specify the number of polling stations in Bosnia. ## Who covered it Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (10) - Centre: 26% (4) - Right: 7% (1) 9 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-07T10:45:08.182054+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 67 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-07T11:30:09.713Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the inconvenience and potential disenfranchisement caused by the decision to tie overseas voting hours to Serbia's local time. These reports highlighted that voters in places like Chicago and Australia would face inconvenient hours, with some having to vote overnight. They also noted that the decision ignored requests for more polling stations in North America, Australia, and Europe, with one report quoting an election commission member who stated this could effectively close the door for over 26,000 people. The political context of the upcoming election, including President Aleksandar Vucic's move to return as prime minister and the challenge from a student-led movement, was also mentioned. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted the decision to tie overseas voting hours to Serbia's local time and the potential backlash from the diaspora. These reports mentioned that voters in locations such as Chicago and Australia would face inconvenient voting hours. They also noted the approval of 93 polling stations abroad, with 28 in Bosnia, and cited critics who argued that the decision ignored requests for more polling stations in North America, Australia, and Europe. ### Right - The right-rated report emphasised that Serbia's election commission has tied overseas voting hours to local time, affecting the Serbian diaspora's ability to vote in the upcoming election. It stated that this decision means voters in places like Chicago and Australia would face inconvenient voting hours. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 7 - unknown: 9 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/general-election/11197801/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/europe/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election/article_33cf6b4d-9de8-58ae-aacd-0f6232d1b075.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/europe/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election/article_643f8828-3bbc-5ad8-b6fa-7938d08e16cb.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/europe/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election/article_0a51d4ea-1a90-5602-b97a-96f62cc16e3e.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/aleksandar-vucic-serbia-bosnia-belgrade-chicago-b3062022.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/serbia-election-overseas-voting-hours-23936fb71cf72c3d849fde3ac92d37da) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/aleksandar-vucic-serbia-bosnia-belgrade-chicago-b3062022.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/world/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of/article_d0ef8528-9c81-53bc-b6ab-350252af0d17.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Henry Herald](https://henryherald.com/news/world_nation/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of/article_8bfdbca6-4df9-5132-8dea-5200c948078e.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Cherokee Tribune Ledger News](https://tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of/article_6fc7ce7a-5006-52b8-8b1a-7e56f8d75e67.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-local-time-move-spark-137026218) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/europe/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election/article_02bd1c22-80ae-568e-af22-95f1d24301e6.html) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/06/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-to-local-time-a-move-likely-to-spark-backlash-ahead-of-a-key-election) — Serbia ties overseas voting to local time, a move likely to spark backlash ahead of a key election - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/sirbistan-in-yurt-disindaki-93-sandikta-oy-verme-20300860-haberi) — Voting at Serbia's 93 Polling Stations Abroad Will Take Place According to Serbian Time. - [www.dnevnik.bg](https://dnevnik.bg/sviat/2026/10/05/4962873_niakoi_surbi_v_chujbina_shte_triabva_da_glasuvat/?ref=rss) — Some Serbs Abroad Will Have to Vote in the Middle of the Night in Parliamentary Elections - [nin.rs](https://nin.rs/politika/vesti/125101/cesid-objavio-tacna-vremena-pocetka-glasanja-u-inostranstvu-na-izborima-25-oktobra) — CESID Announced the Exact Start Times for Voting Abroad in the October 25 Elections - [Balkan Insight](https://balkaninsight.com/2026/10/05/serbs-abroad-may-have-to-vote-overnight-under-new-election-rule/bi) — Serbs Abroad May Have to Vote Overnight Under New Election Rule - [savremenapolitika.com](https://savremenapolitika.com/izglasan-predlog-msp-a-o-biralistima-u-inostranstvu) — Voted MSP Proposal on Polling Stations Abroad - [Biznis i Finansije](https://bif.rs/2026/10/biracka-mesta-u-dijaspori-otvorena-kao-u-srbiji-glasace-se-i-nocu) — Polling Stations in the Diaspora Are Open as in Serbia, Voting Will Also Take Place at Night - [serbiantimes.info](https://serbiantimes.info/kako-je-rik-oduzeo-pravo-glasa-hiljadama-ljudi-u-dijaspori-zasedali-u-gluvo-doba-odluke-doneli-pred-ponoc-i-istek-roka-za-prijave) — HOW RIK TOOK THE RIGHT TO VOTE FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE DIASPORA: Sessions Were Held in the Dead of Night, Decisions Were Made Before Midnight and the Deadline for Applications Expired! - [Naslovi.net](https://naslovi.net/2026-10-05/nedeljnik/nocna-sednica-rik-a-biracka-mesta-u-dijaspori-otvorena-kao-u-srbiji-glasace-se-i-nocu/42446916) — RIK Night Session: Polling Stations in the Diaspora Are Open as in Serbia, Voting Will Also Take Place at Night - [Nedeljnik](https://nedeljnik.rs/nocna-sednica-rik-a-biracka-mesta-u-dijaspori-otvorena-kao-u-srbiji-glasace-se-i-nocu) — RIK Night Session: Polling Stations in the Diaspora Are Open as in Serbia, Voting Will Also Take Place at Night - [n1info.rs](https://n1info.rs/vesti/biracka-mesta-u-dijaspori-ce-se-uskladjivati-sa-srpskim-lokalnim-vremenima-pa-ce-se-glasati-i-nocu) — Polling Stations in the Diaspora Will Be Aligned with Serbian Local Times, so Voting Will Also Be Held at Night - [Dnevni list Danas](https://danas.rs/vesti/politika/izbori26/biracka-mesta-u-dijspori-ce-se-uskladjivati-sa-srpskim-lokalnim-vremenom-pa-ce-se-glasati-i-nocu) — Polling Stations in the Diaspora Will Be Adjusted to Serbian Local Time, so Voting Will Also Take Place at Night ## Questions **How will Serbia's election commission change overseas voting?** Serbia's election commission has decided that overseas voting hours will be tied to Serbia's local time. This means polling stations abroad will operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central European Time, regardless of the local time in the country where the station is located. **Which countries will be most affected by the new voting rules?** Voters in countries far from Serbia's time zone, such as the United States (including Chicago) and Australia, will be most affected. They may have to cast their ballots in the middle of the night due to the time difference. **How many polling stations will be available overseas?** Serbia's election commission has approved 93 polling stations abroad. A significant portion of these, 28, will be located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has a large ethnic Serb minority. **Why are critics concerned about these changes?** Critics argue that tying voting hours to Serbia's local time makes it difficult for the diaspora to vote and that the commission has ignored requests for more polling stations in key areas like North America, Australia, and Europe. They suggest this could disenfranchise over 26,000 voters. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Serbia ties overseas voting hours to local time", https://mediabias.news/politics/serbia-ties-overseas-voting-hours-to-local-time