Serbia holds a snap parliamentary election today, Sunday, 25 October. Polls open at 07:00 Central European Time (02:00 ET) and close at 20:00 (15:00 ET), as part of our Serbia Election 2026 coverage.
Serbia is a Balkan country of about 6.5 million registered voters. For US readers, polls open in the small hours and close mid-afternoon Eastern Time.
Key Facts
- Election day: Sunday, 25 October 2026, polls open 07:00 to 20:00 CET, which is 2 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
- At stake: All 250 seats in the National Assembly; 126 are needed for a majority.
- Voters: The Republic Electoral Commission set the electorate at 6,450,523 voters.
- Latest named poll: Ipsos, 20–22 October, commissioned by the ruling list: SNS 47.4%, Student List 40.0%.
- Prediction markets: Kalshi priced the SNS-led list at about 72% to win and the Student List at about 29%, as of 9:34 p.m. ET on 24 October.
Voters Choose 250 Lawmakers
The Republic Electoral Commission, the state body that runs the vote, is conducting the election for all 250 seats in the National Assembly. A party or list needs 126 seats for a majority.
The commission set the electorate at 6,450,523 voters for this election. N1, a Serbian news outlet, reported that some commission members and international observers have questioned how accurate the register is.
Two Lists, Two Different Polls
The governing list is led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and associated with President Aleksandar Vučić. Its main rival is Student List – Students Win, a 250-candidate slate that grew out of the student protest movement.
An Ipsos survey of 3,624 people, conducted 20–22 October and commissioned by the ruling list, put SNS at 47.4% and the Student List at 40.0%. Ivica Dačić’s Socialist Party list registered 3.2%.
An NSPM telephone survey of 1,050 people, conducted 25 September to 5 October, before the Ipsos fieldwork began, found the Student List ahead among decided voters at 44.5% against 42.7% for SNS. In that survey 18.3% of respondents were undecided.
What Prediction Markets Say
On Kalshi, which is regulated in the US by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the SNS-led list was priced at about 72% to win the parliamentary election and the Student List at about 29%. On Polymarket, United Serbia was priced at 71.5%, with about US$4.84 million traded. Both readings were taken at about 9:34 p.m. ET on 24 October 2026.
These are bets, not polls, and the prices can move quickly once results arrive.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Why the Vote Matters
The election follows almost two years of student-led protests that began after the November 2024 collapse of a railway-station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people on 1 November 2024. Student protesters have since formed a national electoral slate.
The two newest polls differ in sponsor, method, field dates and treatment of undecided voters, so the true gap between the lists is contested.
What It Means for US Readers
Markets popular with American traders favour the incumbent list, though a poll or two leans the other way. The result will show whether a student-led movement can turn street pressure into parliamentary seats.
Serbia sits in the Western Balkans, where Washington and Brussels compete for influence with Moscow and Beijing. Watch the first official figures after the polls close at 15:00 ET.
What Is Not Known
No official result or turnout figure exists before polls close and counting begins. It is not yet known whether any list will reach 126 seats or whether coalition talks will be needed.
The size of the true gap between the two leading lists is unclear. Observers have also questioned the accuracy of the voter register.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Serbian election?
Serbians vote on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Polls are open from 07:00 to 20:00 CET, which is 2 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Who are the main contenders?
The ruling SNS-led list, associated with President Aleksandar Vučić, faces Student List – Students Win. Ivica Dačić’s Socialist Party list polled 3.2% in the Ipsos survey.
How many seats are being contested?
All 250 seats in the National Assembly are up for election. A majority needs 126 seats.
What do the polls say?
An Ipsos survey commissioned by the ruling list gave SNS 47.4% and the Student List 40.0%. An earlier NSPM survey found the Student List ahead among decided voters, 44.5% to 42.7%.
What do prediction markets say?
Kalshi priced the SNS-led list at about 72% to win and the Student List at about 29% as of 9:34 p.m. ET on 24 October. Polymarket had United Serbia at 71.5%. These are bets, not polls.
Sources: Republic Electoral Commission of Serbia (rik.parlament.gov.rs), PolitPro Serbia trend, Ipsos and NSPM survey reports, Kalshi market page, read 25 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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