ELECTIONS

Campaigns

August- September 2000

Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) within the first three years of its existence has become recognizable as an organization for domestic observation of elections. However, the lack of openness of the state media caused the majority of population to remain deprived of information on our activities and on the existence of the idea of domestic observation of elections at in general.

At the beginning of August 2000, CeSID's pre-elections campaign was launched, and the most important task was to get through to the majority of population and to introduce the uninformed to the idea CeSID was founded on, and then to invite citizens to join in and to take part in the electoral process as impartial observers.

The first stage of the campaign that was going on in the course of August 2000 aimed at sending a message in a simple manner to citizens, authorities in charge and participants in the elections that we would do our best to ensure the electoral process to be legal, accessible to the public and transparent as “ 1+1=2” . In the course of the second stage of the campaign, citizens were invited to join CeSID under the slogan “ Join in. If you care!” In addition, to contribute to the transparency of the electoral process as domestic observers by observing the voting process. In the first days of the second stage of the campaign, CeSID received few timid calls, but by the end of the first week, the number of the registered mounted to several hundreds a day. During the pre-elections campaign, which lasted 50 days, almost 7500 people joined CeSID.

During the whole pre-elections period, CeSID informed the public regularly about the current activities through press releases, press conferences as well as through direct contacts with the media.

On several occasions, we organized public stands in the streets and squares of towns across Serbia . That attracted great attention of citizens judging by the number of distributed leaflets and other material.

The success CeSID achieved in bringing together citizens, unfortunately also prompted the then in power to embark on a very intensive counter-campaign.

October 2000

Only several hours after the closing of the polling stations on September 24 th 2000, it became almost evident that then in power Serbian Socialist Party (SPS) – Yugoslav United Left (JUL) would not accept defeat.

In order to show that the fight for verity of the results of the elections was not lost, and to articulate the mounting dissatisfaction of citizens, CeSID designed and carried out a new media campaign for respecting voting will of citizens. Two main slogans were related to the transparency of the election and to domestic observers.

Under the slogan: “It can be helped. One and one are still two. ” the promotion of transparency was continued, and the main idea was to state clearly and with dignity that the election fraud cannot be hidden.

Under the slogan “Now We Know Why They Are Bothered by Foreign Observers” , CeSID, alluding to the election fraud, called attention to the need for domestic observation of elections.

The follow-up slogans appeared in newspaper advertisements and on small stickers, which were distributed to citizens during the demonstrations on October 5 2000 , paraphrasing the main slogans of the campaign and alluding to incorrect addition and the lack of knowledge of mathematics of the members the Federal Electoral Commission.

December 2000

CeSID's aim was to attract all those citizens who were interested in the idea of domestic impartial observation of elections, but who had not joined CeSID during the campaign that preceded the September elections because of threats or justified fear of consequences. Our objective was to bring together enough observers so that CeSID could be present at all polling stations on the territory of the Republic of Serbia . Our aim was to show to the public that the fight would never be over when it comes to achieving rights, freedom and democracy.

Within this campaign, two main slogans were used. With the slogan "Be Observer. It is Never Over", CeSID emphasized the need for observing the elections regardless the victory of Democratic Opposition of Serbia at the previous elections. In that situation, CeSID and its observers pointed out their impartiality in the electoral process.

The other slogan was "Be an Observer. Easy and Powerful". CeSID was already well known at that moment, but it was necessary to assure the target group that it was not complicated to be an observer. Also, the idea that to become an observer is a challenge that should be met so that elections could be transparent.

The media campaign completely achieved the set objectives. Namely, in the course of the campaign, CeSID gathered 13 000 observers altogether.