The “Pod lupom” Coalition publishes the main findings from monitoring election day up to 19:00 hrs, based on reports from its observers deployed across the country.
135 critical situations have been recorded, indicating serious electoral irregularities. These include instances of insufficient polling materials (30 cases), procedural shortcomings in observers’ access to polling stations (24 cases), and irregularities during the voting process (15 cases), such as photographing ballots, issuing more ballots than necessary, failures in the operation of polling station committees, abuse of voting assistance, compromised voting secrecy, and more. One case in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning vote-buying and organized transportation of voters to polling stations has been reported to the police. A similar case of bribing voters from a vehicle was recorded in Živinice and is currently under investigation.
“Pod lupom” is also monitoring the implementation of new technologies at polling stations today. By 19:00 hrs, the equipment was functioning properly at almost all polling stations, and the voting process proceeded smoothly. The exception is Tuzla, where two ballot scanners malfunctioned; however, voting continued without the equipment. Voter education regarding the use of new voting technologies should be further improved, as instructions explaining how to use the piloted technology have not been displayed at 13.4% of polling stations.
Closing of Polling Stations
Most polling stations closed on time. 10.9% of polling stations closed with a slight delay of up to 15 minutes. 2.3% of polling stations closed between 19:16 hrs and 20:00 hrs. According to initial information, the majority of voters who were at or in front of the polling station at 19:00 hrs were allowed to vote. At 2.1% of polling stations, entry was permitted after the polling station had closed.
Turnout by 19:00 hrs
The “Pod lupom” Coalition is monitoring information on voter turnout in the elections. The recorded voter turnout for the Local Elections until 19:00 hrs is 46.1% (with a margin of statistical error of +/- 1.61% at a 0.95 percentage point accuracy interval). Voter turnout in the 2020 Local Elections by 19:00 hrs and in the 2022 General Elections by 19:00 hrs was 50%.
The “Pod lupom” Coalition invites citizens to share all their positive or negative election experiences today through the form available at https://mojeiskustvo.podlupom.org/. Citizens can also report any electoral irregularities via the toll-free number 080 05 05 05.
The next press conference regarding the vote-counting process for (city) mayors and councils/assemblies and electoral irregularities until 21:30 hrs will take place at 22:00 hrs at the Holiday Hotel in Sarajevo.
