General elections in Serbia are far from over. In an unprecedented move, the results from 3% of all polling stations were annuled by the Republic Electoral Commission, and the revote was called for Wednesday, July 1st. How to explain this? A thread. https://twitter.com/CRTArs/status/1276444618192826386

Two apparent explanations are that the revote might increase the future parliament's legitimacy by a) pushing the turnout over 50%, and b) helping at least one more party pass the 3% threshold. Neither of these outcomes are likely.

The revotes usually have lower turnout, and combined with the elections being held on a working day (legal but, hm, novel), and the increased fear of the covid's "second peak" aproaching, the turnout might not actually be higher than June 21.

In addition, the list closest to the 3% threshold has to improve their performance at least five times to enter the parliament. Even so, this would be one more parliamentary group willing to support the majority. Therefore, this addition would seem both suspicious and redundant.

If the massive revote is not aimed at turnout/representation, then why? Most likely, the goal is to legitimize the electoral process, not the outcome. Annuling the polling stations based on procedural irregularities will boost the argument that the authorities did a good job.

However, in reality, tens if not hundreds of objections against serious breaches of freedom and fairness of the voting on the Election day have all been discarded without any explanation. No polling stations are annuled because of the voting secrecy, vote buying, or intimidation.

This is just the latest example of the rich repertoire of misuses of electoral rules, that began months ago, intended to shape the incentives of parties and voters, as well as the perceptions at home and abroad. A meticulous construction of legitimacy. End.