The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH), at its session held yesterday, adopted the Decision on calling and conducting the General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026, according to which the first elections featuring the application of new electoral technologies—electronic voter identification and ballot scanners—will be held on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom” welcomes the long-awaited introduction of new technologies into the electoral process, which represents a historic step forward in improving elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The implementation of new electoral technologies represents the greatest step to date toward reducing proven electoral irregularities on election day and strengthening citizens’ trust in the electoral process. This decision is the result of, and a victory for, years of advocacy and the joint efforts of citizens, civil society organizations, and international partners aimed at establishing free and fair elections.
At the same time, the “Pod lupom” Coalition emphasizes that Bosnia and Herzegovina is now entering a crucial implementation phase, in which it will be necessary to ensure full technical and operational readiness of the new solutions. This includes adapting electoral technologies to the specificities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electoral system, conducting thorough testing, and providing comprehensive training for election administration officials and voters on their proper use. It is equally essential to ensure the possibility of independent and inclusive testing and verification of the new electoral technologies prior to their full deployment on election day, with the presence of independent observers, political stakeholders, and media representatives, in order to further guarantee the integrity of the electoral process.
In the upcoming period, the “Pod lupom” Coalition will also launch its independent citizen election observation mission for the upcoming General Elections, within which it will monitor the work of the election administration, electoral irregularities, the political campaign, and the media environment, as well as actively follow the implementation of the new electoral technologies.
