The general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are being held today, and the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced the data on voter turnout until 11:00 a.m. at a press conference.
According to the data of the CEC of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 406,847 voters, or 11.94 percent, voted by 11 am. In the previous elections, the turnout for the same period was 15 percent.
It was also announced that of that number, 44.10 percent are women and 55.90 percent are men, and 5,757 people are voting for the first time. In addition to delays due to problems with the scanners, a problem with the identification of voters, mainly those with newer ID cards, was also identified. Attempts to submit already filled ballots were also reported.
Polling stations across Bosnia and Herzegovina open at 7 a.m., and voting lasts until 7 p.m. After the closing of the polling stations, it is expected that the publication of the preliminary election results will begin.
According to earlier announcements by the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first preliminary results of the General Elections should be presented tonight around 8:00 p.m.
108 certified political entities are participating in the elections – 75 political parties, 29 coalitions and four independent candidates.
Voters in Republika Srpska are today electing the President and Vice-Presidents of the Republika Srpska, members of the BiH Presidency from among the Serbian people, deputies in the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and deputies in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.
In the elections, representatives are elected at other levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the constituencies and levels for which the elections are held.
This year’s elections are taking place with the application of new electoral technologies. CEC BiH is using the system of biometric identification of voters and scanning of ballots for the first time.
The voter identifies himself at the polling station using biometric data, after which he picks up the ballots and casts his vote. After voting, the ballots are scanned, and the data is used in the process of faster transmission of election results.
The CEC of BiH has also prepared special instructions for voters on the way to mark ballots, as well as the use of biometric identification and scanners.
The election silence began yesterday, October 3, at 7:00 a.m. and continues until the polling stations close, that is, until 7:00 p.m. today. During the election silence, the activities of political entities representing the election campaign, as well as media coverage of activities related to the political and election campaign, are prohibited.
The first preliminary results are expected tonight around 8 p.m.
