Vankuver

Dear [Name],

I am writing to you as a constituent, a proud Canadian, and a member of the Serbian-Canadian community in your electoral district to bring an urgent and time-sensitive issue concerning democratic access and the voting rights of Serbian citizens living in Canada to your attention.

There are only three days remaining to address this issue. Serbian authorities may make a final decision on additional polling stations abroad on October 9, 2026. Immediate engagement by Canadian elected representatives and Global Affairs Canada could therefore be critical to ensuring that Vancouver is considered before the polling-station arrangements are finalized.

Serbia will hold parliamentary elections on October 25, 2026. Serbian citizens living abroad may vote only in person at designated polling stations; there is no postal or online voting option. On October 5, Serbia’s Republic Electoral Commission published its list of polling stations abroad. Vancouver has been excluded from the 2026 list, despite hundreds of eligible voters in the region having registered by the deadline. This exceeds the Commission’s own guideline of a minimum of 100 registered voters for establishing a polling station abroad.

The decision was made public only on October 4, leaving Serbian citizens living abroad with very little time to organize, seek clarification, contact authorities, or advocate for the establishment of additional polling stations before the October 9 deadline. This extremely short window is particularly challenging for diaspora communities that need to coordinate across different countries and time zones and communicate with both Serbian and Canadian authorities.

As a result, Serbian citizens living in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan who wish to vote in person may now have to travel thousands of kilometres to Eastern Canada, with the nearest available polling stations reportedly in Toronto and Ottawa. For many voters—including seniors, families with young children, people with disabilities, and those unable to take time off work—the cost, distance and logistical burden make voting effectively inaccessible.

This represents a significant change from the 2023 election, when Serbian citizens in Vancouver were able to exercise their right to vote locally. While the administration of Serbian elections is ultimately a matter for Serbian authorities, the removal of a polling station that previously served a substantial Canadian community raises a serious question about whether Serbian citizens living in Western Canada have meaningful access to their electoral rights.

There is also a lack of transparency surrounding the decision. The Serbian diplomatic mission in Canada and relevant Serbian authorities have not provided the community with clear information about how many voters registered in Western Canada, the criteria used to determine polling locations, or why Vancouver was excluded despite the number of registered voters.

As Canadians, we believe that free, fair, and accessible elections are fundamental to democracy. I fully understand that Canada should not interfere in Serbia’s domestic political affairs. However, this issue directly affects hundreds of people, many of whom are also Canadian citizens and constituents of Canadian Members of Parliament.

Given the extremely short timeline, I am asking the Government of Canada to raise this legitimate democratic-access concern with the Government of Serbia immediately, before October 9. Polling stations abroad operate with the agreement of the host country, and Canada can make clear that it has no objection to the establishment of a polling station in Vancouver.

We respectfully ask that you consider taking the following actions:

Raise the issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately: Request that Global Affairs Canada, through the Embassy of Canada in Belgrade, urgently communicate with Serbian authorities regarding the lack of accessible voting facilities for Serbian citizens in Western Canada.

Seek immediate clarification from Serbian authorities: Ask why Vancouver was excluded from the 2026 list despite having a polling station in 2023 and despite the reported number of registered voters in the region.

Clarify Canada’s position before October 9: Make clear to Serbian authorities that Canada has no objection to a polling station being established in Vancouver and that Canadian authorities are prepared to facilitate its operation, subject to the applicable arrangements.

Bring the issue to Parliament: Raise the matter in the House of Commons or with the Canada–Serbia Parliamentary Friendship Group, highlighting the importance of democratic access for Canadian constituents who also hold Serbian citizenship.

Encourage an immediate solution: Request that Serbian authorities reconsider the exclusion of Vancouver before the October 9 deadline and establish an accessible polling location for Serbian citizens in Western Canada.

The Serbian community is highly engaged on this issue, and the next three days may be the critical window in which action can still make a difference before the polling-station arrangements are finalized. The late publication of the decision has left the diaspora with very limited time to respond, making timely engagement by Canadian officials particularly important.

Thank you for your time, your service to our riding, and your commitment to democratic values and the rights of your constituents. I would be grateful for a response outlining what steps your office may be able to take before the October 9 deadline.

Sincerely,
Ime i prezime

Poštovani Ambasadore,

Kao državljanin Republike Srbije zahtevam da se moje ustavno pravo da mogu da glasam u inostranstvu ispoštuje.

U Vankuveru postoji kancelarija počasnog konzula i prijavilo se vise od 600 ljudi za glasanje.

Za prethodne izbore biračko mesto u Vankuveru je bilo otvoreno iako se prijavilo malo više od 100 ljudi. Takođe, glasanje je obavljeno dan ranije, a ne noću.

Očekujem od Vas kao predstavnika srpskih državljana u Kanadi da nam pomognete da se ispoštuje nasa građanska volja i pravo po zakonu Republike Srbije da učestvujemo u izborima 2026.

Pošaljite zahtev u Republičku Izbornu Komisiju i u Ministarstvo Spoljnih Poslova da se pod hitno donese odluka o otvaranju biračkog mesta u Vankuveru!

Sa poštovanjem
Ime i prezime