BS
At a press conference, the Coalition “Pod lupom” presented its first findings from the non-partisan citizen observation of Election Day.
For Election Day, Pod lupom deployed a total of 888 non-partisan citizen observers to monitor the entire electoral process at polling stations, from the opening of polling stations, through the voting process and the implementation of new election technologies, to the closing of polling stations, vote counting and the packing of election materials.
At most polling stations, Coalition “Pod lupom” observers had no problems accessing polling stations. Certain problems were recorded at 1.6% of polling stations, where polling station committees had not received the lists of accredited observers or did not allow observers to access polling stations before 7:00. These were isolated procedural shortcomings that did not jeopardize the Coalition “Pod lupom” observation mission and were resolved in a timely manner, allowing observers to continue monitoring the electoral process.
More than half of polling stations, 52.1%, opened exactly on time. A further 37% opened with minor delays of up to 15 minutes. By 8:00, 10.1% of polling stations had opened, while a very small number, 0.8%, opened after 8:00. Such delays were somewhat more frequent than in previous electoral cycles. By comparison, during the 2024 Local Elections, 76% of polling stations opened exactly at 7:00. This may be related to preparations required for the use of election technologies, as well as to the preparedness of the election administration. For example, at 7.6% of observed polling stations, not all members of the polling station committee were present at 6:00, when they were required to be there, which was particularly important given the introduction of new technologies.
By 9:30, a total of 46 serious violations of election rules had been recorded. These mainly related to obstruction of observation, certain problems with election materials, or violations of polling station procedures.
In addition, as Coalition “Pod lupom” is also monitoring the implementation of new election technologies at polling stations, the first information shows that the new technologies were operational before the opening of polling stations at 99% of polling stations.
At 98.8% of polling stations, the prescribed procedures regarding the printing of initial reports were followed, and observers were provided access to these reports at all such polling stations.
At 2.7% of polling stations, the operator responsible for the new technologies was not present at 6:00. At 2% of polling stations, the prescribed instructions for voters on how to mark and scan ballots were not visibly displayed.
“We call on all voters to go out and vote today. Voters should not be afraid of the new technologies. They were not introduced to make it more difficult to exercise the right to vote, but to provide that right with additional protection. This time, no one can know how an individual voter voted, and each voter’s vote goes exactly to the choice for which it was intended,” the Coalition “Pod lupom” stated.
Coalition “Pod lupom” calls on citizens to report any election irregularities they observe by calling the toll-free number 080 05 05 05 or by using the online form at https://neregularnosti.podlupom.org/. Election irregularities may also be reported anonymously.
The next press release on the voting process, voter turnout and election irregularities recorded by 11:00 will be published at 13:00 on www.podlupom.org. The next press conference will be held at 16:30 at Hotel Holiday in Sarajevo.
