The Serb List, the largest party representing Serbs in Kosovo and supported by Belgrade, has accused the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kosovo of “political manipulation” due to what it called the “unequal” composition of polling station councils for counting votes in the October 12 local elections.

During a press conference on September 8, the party also criticized the voter lists in Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo.

The Serb List stated that it has submitted a complaint to the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP).

Igor Simić, an official of the Serb List, said at a press conference that compared to the parliamentary elections held in February this year, a smaller number of voters has been observed in several municipalities, particularly in Leposavić and North Mitrovica.

According to Simić’s claims, there are about 1,500 fewer voters on the electoral roll in Leposavić, and around 1,200 fewer in North Mitrovica.

“We found that voters in North Mitrovica have been removed from the polling station at the ‘Sveti Sava’ elementary school, where Serb citizens cast their ballots. This is a large number of voters that could drastically affect the results of the elections, both for municipal assembly members and for the mayor,” Simić declared.

He added that in Gračanica, near Pristina, the number of voters has “drastically increased,” with over 2,000 more voters compared to the February parliamentary elections.

Simić said that the Serb List has not received an explanation from the CEC on these issues and called on ECAP, as well as the international community, to respond.

Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) contacted the CEC regarding the Serb List’s accusations, but the institution has not yet provided a response.

The Serb List also claimed that the CEC has caused damage to the party regarding the composition of polling station councils.

“In the municipality of Novo Brdo there are 23 polling stations. The Serb List won 60 percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections, but we don’t have a single chairperson at any polling station [in this municipality]. And not only that, we are missing nine members of the polling station councils, which means that in nine classrooms the Serb List will not be able to oversee this electoral process,” Simić said.