The Coalition “Pod lupom” has released its latest key findings on election-day observation, covering the voting process, voter turnout, and electoral irregularities recorded by 15:00.
By 15:00, the Coalition “Pod lupom” had documented a total of 24 serious electoral irregularities related to: shortages of electoral materials designated for specific polling stations (6), violations of the election silence period (5), restrictions on election observation (2), unlawful publication of public opinion polling results (2), polling stations without posted lists of polling board members (2), pressure on voters (3), photographing inside polling stations (2), non-compliance with procedures for issuing ballots (1), and recording voters as they arrive to vote (1).
Other recorded irregularities and omissions relate to long-standing issues that traditionally recur from one election cycle to another: family voting (observed at 32.9% of polling stations), voters being turned away because they do not appear on the Central Voters Register extract (1–10 cases at 30.9% of polling stations, more than 10 cases at 0.9% of polling stations), voting without proof of required assistance (26.6%), providing assistance to multiple voters inside the voting booth (15.6%), and voting without identification checks (2.5%).
Observers submitted 3 objections to the work of polling boards, while the Coalition “Pod lupom” has so far filed 7 initiatives with the Central Election Commission for ex officio action regarding electoral irregularities, as well as 3 complaints to local election commissions. In one case, the Coalition “Pod lupom” called the police in the Brčko District of BiH following a report of voter intimidation.
Turnout by 15:00
The Coalition “Pod lupom” is also monitoring voter turnout. The recorded turnout for the Early Presidential Election by 15:00 stands at 26% (with a margin of statistical error of +/- 1.02% at a 0.95 confidence interval). Turnout at the same time during the 2022 General Elections in Republika Srpska was 39%.
Representatives of the Coalition “Pod lupom” emphasize that every report of an electoral irregularity contributes to a fairer electoral process.
“We urge all citizens to report any deviation from the rules immediately via the free hotline 080 05 05 05 or through social media,” the Coalition stated.
The next press conference will be held at 22:00 at the Hotel Holiday in Sarajevo, where the Coalition “Pod lupom” will report on the voting process up to 19:00, the closing of polling stations, the vote count, voter turnout, electoral irregularities recorded by 21:30, and preliminary election results.
