The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will deploy a Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) to Bosnia and Herzegovina from June 14–19, 2026, to assess the electoral environment in advance of the country’s general elections scheduled for October 4, 2026.During its mission, the delegation will meet with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Central Election Commission (CEC), political leaders and party representatives from across the political spectrum and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entities, civil society organizations, media representatives, and members of the international community. The delegation’s work will be informed by NDI’s longstanding engagement in the country, dating back to 1996 following the Dayton Peace Agreement, and will examine the legal framework, electoral preparations, political and civic participation, and the broader electoral environment.
The delegation is led by the Tanja Fajon, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, and comprises a group of international experts, including: Carsten Schürmann (Germany), Election Technology Expert and Professor of Computer Science at IT University Copenhagen; Natalia Slepuhin(Moldova), Executive Director and co-founder of Primăria Mea; Mark Stevens (United Kingdom), International Elections Expert; Richard L. Klein, Global Director of Elections, National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Borislav Spasojevic, Senior Advisor for Southeast Europe, International Republican Institute (IRI).
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s elections come at a tense moment for the country and will involve the introduction of new election day technology,” said Ms. Fajon. “Strong democratic institutions depend on public trust, meaningful participation, and respect for democratic norms. It is essential that citizens and political actors have confidence that the process is transparent, inclusive and accountable.”
“Pre-election assessment missions play a vital role in supporting credible elections by drawing attention to key electoral issues well before election day,” said Mr. Klein. “By providing an independent and impartial assessment and offering practical recommendations, we aim to strengthen confidence in the electoral process and focus attention on the conditions necessary for citizens to participate freely and confidently.”
At the conclusion of its visit, the delegation will hold a press conference to present its findings and recommendations. NDI’s assessment is being conducted in accordance with the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which outlines standards for impartial and professional election observation. This initiative is made possible with the generous support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The work of the delegation, including its findings and recommendations, is solely that of the Institute and the delegation.
