The Coalition “Pod lupom” publishes its Election Day observation findings, covering the voting process, the closing of polling stations, the turnout and the projection of the results for the mayor based on reports from citizen, nonpartisan observers deployed in Jablanica.
The projection of the results for the mayor
According to the Coalition’s preliminary projection of the results for the mayor of the municipality of Jablanica, the new mayor of Jablanica is Emir Muratović, Party of Democratic Action (SDA) who won 57,6% of the votes, while his counter-candidate and former mayor Damir Šabanović, Social Democratic Party of BiH (SDP BiH) won 42,4% of the votes. The margin of statistical error in this projection is significant and amounts to +/- 5,4% at a 95% confidence interval, but the difference between the candidates is sufficient to declare the winner. However, it is necessary to wait for the official and complete results to be stated by the Central Election Commission of BiH (CEC BiH).
Voter Turnout by 7:00 PM
The recorded voter turnout for the postponed elections by 7:00 PM was 67,4% (with a margin of error of +/- 2,6% at a 95% confidence interval) and is significantly higher than in the regular election. The turnout for the regular Local Election held on October 6th by 7:00 PM was 47.1% (with a margin of error of +/- 1.26% at a 95% confidence interval).
Closing of Polling Stations
Most polling stations closed on time, except one (126A002) which closed with a slight delay of up to 15 minutes. According to the latest information, most voters waiting inside or in front of the polling stations by 7:00 PM were allowed to vote.
Voting
The process of voting at polling stations in the postponed elections in Jablanica experienced some ‘traditional’ irregularities and oversights that are repeating from election cycle to election cycle, but without serious violations of electoral rules. The following were identified during the voting process: voter-assistance abuse at 6 polling stations, voters turned away from the polling station because they were not on the Central Voter Register Excerpt at 5 polling stations, family voting at 4 polling stations, using assistance of another person in voting without proof of such need at 4 polling stations and voting without verification of required identification documents at 2 polling stations.
Conclusion
Although the elections in Jablanica were postponed due to the natural disaster, the increased turnout shows the citizens’ interest to participate in the election of local government despite the complex circumstances in which they find themselves.
In addition, while the procedural aspects relating to the organisation and opening of polling stations as well as to the closure of polling stations have been respected, the recorded irregularities and oversights in the voting process show that there are long-standing challenges in ensuring the consistent application of the electoral rules. While significant improvements to the electoral rules were adopted and implemented for the first time in these elections, certain electoral irregularities and oversights can be marked as ‘traditional’. However, if frequent, they may have a strong impact on the electoral process as well as on the election results. Certainly, it is necessary to consistently apply electoral rules and to introduce new election technologies (electronic voter identification and ballot scanners) for the next elections, which would completely prevent most of the Election Day electoral irregularities and oversights.
