The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom”, which in partnership with 85 CSOs and informal groups observes the pre-election period in BiH, at today’s press conference in Tuzla presented the findings of the long-term observation of the election process towards the upcoming 2022 General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (for the period July 25 – August 21, 2022).
In the previous 4 weeks of long-term election observation, 374 different election irregularities were reported. The largest number of observed irregularities ( 256) relates to conducting election campaign at a time when it is expressly prohibited by the BiH Election Law. “Out of the total number of recorded irregularities pertaining to the banned campaign, 146 reports refer to paid ads on social networks, and 110 reports are referred to other activities of the election campaign,” said Jelena Tanasković Mićanović, coordinator for public policies in Coalition “Pod lupom”.
Applications containing evidence were submitted to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH). In the last two election cycles, the CEC BiH continuously imposed monetary sanctions for this type of law violation, however, it seems that these have no an effect for certain political subjects. We remind you that the election campaign for the 2022 General Elections in BiH officially commencing on September 02.
Information that we obtained from the field that may cause concern is that a specificn number of municipal and city election commissions are experiencing the problem to filling polling station committees because political subjects did not submit a sufficient number of candidates for members and substitute members of polling station committees. “Given the fact that the last day to appoint members of the polling station committees is September 02, it remains to see whether all municipal and city election commissions will be able to overcome this challenge,” said Tanasković Mićanović.
Due to this, as well as other problems pertaining to the method of establishing and work of polling station committees, the Coalition “Pod lupom” is of the opinion that after the elections, the method of electing members of polling station committees should be changed so that the electoral process does not depend on political subjects.
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Pod lupom” has been observing the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2014. So far, 18 recommendations of the Coalition Pod lupom have been fully or partially implemented in the electoral process in BiH. The Coalition “Pod lupom” as part of its mission of civil, non-partisan observation of the 2022 General Elections is planning to engage over 2,000 non-partisan, civil observers of election day at polling stations. The Coalition “Pod lupom” invites citizens to register to be election observers via the website www.podlupom.org or through free phone number 080 05 05 05. They stated that citizens can also report to the Coalition “Pod lupom” all observed election irregularities through above mentioned phone number or website.
