>>>We also have a pencil based system, with some ingenious add-ons. For one, the ruling party's activists (nicknamed bots, after their main branch, the 101st keyboardist battalion, in constant charge over the news comments and clicking the thumbs up or down as ordered) would make sure their 'secure votes' are secured by taking a snapshot of the ballot with voter's cell phone after the right number was circled. The 'secure vote' then shows the snapshot to his handler and then gets his reward (a promise not to get fired, or a job for the niece - though those jobs are getting fewer and fewer). Activists who engage more activists with ten secure votes each may expect a promotion within party ranks, perhaps even a no-show job in some public utility or state administration, but those were mostly used up in previous elections.
>>>
>>>Then we also have the white ballot movement, people who not only don't believe in the party system, but also make a point of coming to vote and then make their vote not count - mostly by circling several numbers instead of one, but frequently by applying some art - drawing a dick is a favourite. And they do get represented...
>>>
>>>BTW, I get a chuckle every time I see a riding as an administrative unit.
>>
>>I can't tell if you're being facetious. Are you saying you don't have secret ballots in Serbia?
>
>The ballot is your own secret, which is between you, pencil and the cardboard partition. Then you can do with that secret whatever you want - sell it if you must.
>
>IOW the secrecy is circumvented by this scam - yes, nobody's watching while you circle a number, and while you take a snapshot of your ballot, and then you show the snapshot to your handler and your job is safe until the next elections. That is, if you work for government at any level, or for a crony capitalist whose profits depend on his ties to the government/ruling party. You're free to vote as you want as long as sufficient number of people are blackmailed into voting as they must. What do you think how did our current PM stay in power for five years and now get elected president, despite wholesale theft, cronyism, vast erosion of social safety nets, bringing the country down within the single-digit position on the bottom of any list among european countries?

It seems Serbia is trying to become an EU member. I would have thought this sort of thing would be (if widespread) cause for summary dismissal from consideration.

Or maybe the EU is less discriminating than I thought...

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/serbia-faces-tough-reforms-remains-track-eu-membership

"While overhauling Serbia's economy was the biggest challenge, she said there are other key issues, such as the rule of law, including the judiciary, police and public administration."

The rule of law is still an issue? Have there been no improvements since the start of the accession process?

https://www.transparency.org/country/SRB

Tied with Burkina Faso, of all places: http://issuu.com/transparencyinternational/docs/2016_cpireport_en?e=2496456/43483458