The preliminary assessment of the election day of the Coalition “Under Scrutiny” for the re-early elections for the President of Republika Srpska indicates that the election process, viewed exclusively within the framework of the methodology of direct observation at the polling stations, took place to the greatest extent in accordance with the applicable legal rules and prescribed procedures.
During the election day, a significant number of indications of electoral irregularities related to events outside the scope of direct observation at the polling stations were recorded, including pressure on voters around the polling stations, keeping parallel records of voters going to the polls, indications of single-party polling committees with allegations of politically connected presidents of polling committees as well as possible vote buying.
“The volume and frequency of the mentioned cases create justified doubts about the full regularity of the election day. In such a context, despite the formal observance of procedures at most polling stations, the impact of irregularities on voters’ will to vote cannot be completely ruled out,” the “Under Scrutiny” Coalition states in a preliminary assessment of election day.
The “Under Scrutiny” coalition followed the voting results in the repeated early elections for the president of the Republika Srpska from among the Serbian people. The data includes the number of votes for each candidate based on the polling stations where the “Under Scrutiny” Coalition observers were deployed. The aforementioned findings serve as a preliminary confirmation of the official election results.
“Candidate Siniša Karan won 69.03 percent of voters’ votes, and candidate Branko Blanuša 30.17 percent, and the remaining candidates together received 0.8 percent of votes,” added in the preliminary assessment.
The “Under Scrutiny” coalition has registered 21 cases in which there are indications that the presidents of election committees are connected to political parties. which is illegal. Such irregularities are unacceptable because a one-party electoral committee can significantly influence the election results, which is why there are clear legal restrictions. The “Under Scrutiny” coalition spent the whole day collecting evidence for the aforementioned indications in order to report them to the competent authorities.
Above-average turnout (70%+) was recorded at five polling stations in Doboj, which deviates significantly from expected voting patterns. At one of the mentioned polling stations, situations were recorded in which, on average, one voter voted every minute in a certain time interval (eg from 7 to 11 am). Such a pace of voting, viewed in relation to the physical and procedural limitations of the voting process, is an indicator of possible irregularities and requires additional verification.
Of particular concern is the fact that a combination of several different types of electoral irregularities was recorded at one of the mentioned polling stations, which can have a direct impact on the legality of the electoral process and the election result at that polling station, which is why the “Under Scrutiny” Coalition filed a complaint at that polling station. It is polling station 038B044, Pridjel Donji.
In the area of Doboj and Laktaš, information was recorded about keeping parallel records of voters who went out to vote at or near the polling stations, which represents one of the more subtle, but potentially dangerous forms of pressure on voters.
In the public space, as well as through applications received during the election day, there were indications of possible vote buying in the areas of Bratunac, Doboj and Laktaš. Such practices most often took place outside the polling stations. In several cases, the police also responded.
When observing the voting process, electoral irregularities and omissions that are traditionally repeated from election cycle to election cycle (up to 10 cases of said irregularities) were highlighted: family voting (53.1 percent of polling stations), returning voters from the polling station because they are not on the Statement from CBS (44.9 percent), helping another person to vote without proof that help is necessary (27.6 percent) and providing assistance to a larger number of voters to vote in a booth (26.5 percent).
At 19 polling stations, observers’ comments on the work of polling committees were recorded, according to the “Under Scrutiny” Coalition, among others, in their preliminary assessment of the election day.
