Phantom Voters: Organized Voter Migration and Electoral Integrity in the Western Balkans

Organized voter migration (OVM)—sometimes referred to as “voter tourism”—has become a persistent challenge for electoral integrity in the Western Balkans. It involves registering fictitious residencies and transporting voters from other areas, or even across borders, to tilt election outcomes in favor of ruling elites. For over a decade, there have been allegations or documented cases of OVM in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, often uncovered by opposition parties, independent media, or civil society. OVM is difficult to detect on election day and it can decisively affect close contests. Beyond undermining elections, it erodes confidence in democratic processes across the region, with spillover effects that also weaken trust among neighboring countries.

Why has organized voter migration persisted in the Western Balkans, despite repeated warnings from domestic and international observers? How do weak institutions, state capture, and legal loopholes enable this practice? What are the political and societal consequences of OVM domestically and regionally? How can civil society, international partners, and reform-minded actors strengthen safeguards against OVM?

This panel will explore the phenomenon of organized voter migration as a consequential form of electoral manipulation in the Western Balkans. Drawing on recent cases, notably from Montenegro and Serbia, the panelists will analyze the institutional, political, and social drivers of OVM, as well as its implications for trust in democracy and stability in the region. The discussion will identify recommendations for strengthening electoral legislation and highlight the role of civil society and international organizations in safeguarding electoral integrity.

For more information, please contact Zsuzsanna Végh ([email protected]).

The event takes place in the framework of GMF’s ReThink.CEE Fellowship program.


The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan organization that advances the transatlantic partnership to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.