The introduction of new election technologies and scanners in the upcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina should reduce the possibility of voter fraud and manipulation, but it will not solve the problem of pressure on voters before election day itself.
According to a study by the Coalition “Under the Lens”, as many as 40 percent of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina were exposed to some form of pressure about who they should vote for.
The new technologies should prevent multiple voting, voting on behalf of another person or deceased voters, as well as the subsequent filling in of unused ballots.
However, the problem of pressure takes place outside the polling stations and is much more difficult to control. Project Manager of the Coalition “Under the Lens”, Dario Jovanović, states that pressure can include employment conditions, threats of dismissal, an obligation to attend election rallies or demands to secure so-called safe votes.
“Either it was conditioned by employment in the public administration, or it was conditioned by the dismissal of people who are already employed in the public sector, or by the fact that they have to come to the pre-election rally of a certain political entity, or by the fact that they cannot go to the pre-election rally of a political opponent, that they must bring certain votes,” said Jovanović.
Citizens can report pressure anonymously through Transparency International’s Reflektor application, but the problem is the fear of retaliation. For this reason, such cases are rarely publicly confirmed, which makes it difficult to collect evidence and sanction those responsible.
Transparency International warns that in the previous period, there were also cases of public threats to voters during pre-election rallies, including threats of losing their jobs or benefits if they did not support a certain candidate.
The introduction of election scanners thus represents an important step towards greater control of the voting process itself, but the issue of political pressure on voters remains one of the key problems that technology alone cannot solve.
The OSCE mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo, invites citizens to attend presentations of the new electoral technologies to be held across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the project of support to the election process of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo, is organizing 78 presentations and voting simulations in more than 65 cities and municipalities across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As explained in the statement by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the citizens will have the opportunity to participate in a voting simulation, get hands-on experience with biometric identification and voter authentication devices, as well as with optical ballot scanners, and receive answers to how technologies will function in practice.
Participation is open to all citizens and previous registration is not required.
Schedule of Presentations and Simulations
August 31, 2026
1. Cazin, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Plateau in front of the Public Institution “Center for Culture and Tourism” Cazin
2. Ilijaš, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Ilijaš Business Center, 23 Hasima Spahića St.
3. Bihać, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building, 4 Bosanska St.
4. Visoko, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building, 12A Alije
September 1st
1. Višegrad, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Plateau in front of CM market, city center
2. Novi grad, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the Municipal Building/City Stage, 9th of January Square
3. Goražde, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, City Administration of the City of Goražde
4. Prijedor, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Patrija Shopping Center, Major Zoran Karlica Square
September 2nd
1. Gradiška, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Čubrilović Square
2. Jablanica, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Plateau in front of the Jablanica Sports Center
3. Kozarska Dubica, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, In front of the Municipal Building
4. Konjic, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Public University in Konjic, 1 Varda St.
September 3rd
1. Ključ, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Square in front of the Cultural Center
2. Pale, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Promenade – pedestrian area
3. Bosanski Petrovac, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Municipal Building
4. Istočno Novo Sarajevo, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Republic of Serbia Square
September 4, 2026
1. Bosanska Krupa, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Alija Izetbegović Square
2. Sanski Most, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Plateau in front of the National Library, Ljiljani Square
3. Vogošća, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the Vogošća Municipal Building, 80 Jošanička St.
September 5, 2026
1. Banja Luka, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Location to be confirmed later
2. Sarajevo, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Aria Mall
3. Banja Luka, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
4. Sarajevo, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
September 7, 2026
1. Orašje, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the Orašje City Administration building, 45 Treća St.
2. Mrkonjić Grad, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 1 King Petar I Karađorđević Square
3. Šamac, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
4. Šipovo, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Serbian Patriarch Pavle Square
September 8, 2026
1. Jajce, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Jajce Municipal Building
2. Bijeljina, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Gallery of the “Semberija” Cultural Center, 1 Patrijarha Pavla St.
3. Donji Vakuf, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the Cultural Center, 770. Slavne brdske brigade St.
4. Brčko District BiH, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of Hotel “Jelena”, 5 Bulevar mira
September 9, 2026
1. Gradačac, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Alija Izetbegović Square / Sports Hall
2. Bugojno, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Crystal Hall of Bugojno Municipality / In front of the Municipal Building
3. Modriča, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, PE “Serbian Cultural Center Modriča”
4. Novi Travnik , 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Square in front of the City Administration, 1 Kralja Tvrtka St.
September 10, 2026
1. Čelić, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Čelić Municipal Building, 60/2 Alije Izetbegovića St.
2. Travnik , 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM , Town Square
3. Tuzla, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Bingo City Center, 2 MitraTrifunovića Uče St.
4. Vitez, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Town Square
September 11, 2026
1. Lukavac, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 1 Trg slobode
2. Zenica, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the City Council Hall entrance, 6 Trg BiH
3. Mostar, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Mepas Mall (inside)
4. Gračanica, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Etna Shopping Center
5. Kakanj, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, BH Pošta Plateau
6. Mostar, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Plaza Shopping Center
September 12, 2026
1. Tuzla, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Mercator Center Tuzla, 2nd Corps of Armija BiH St.
2. Zenica, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Zenica City Center, Kamberovića čikma
3. Mostar, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, In front of Kosača
4. Tuzla, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Omega / Tuzlanka Shopping Center
5. Zenica, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, In front of the City Council Hall entrance, 6 Trg BiH
6. Tuzla, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Panonika Lakes
7. Mostar , 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM , Musala Square
September 14, 2026
1. Doboj, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, City Administration, 79A Cara Dušana St.
2. Tomislavgrad, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Prodex Shopping Center
3. Tešanj, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Municipal Council Hall, 1 Alija Izetbegović Square
4. Livno, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Ivanović Shopping Center / Metropolis Shopping Center
September 15, 2026
1. Teslić, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Cinema Hall Plateau
2. Posušje, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the Municipal Building entrance
3. Žepče, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Cultural Center Plateau / Municipal Council Hall
4. Široki Brijeg, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building, 11 Fra Didaka Buntića St.
September 16, 2026
1. Maglaj, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Maglaj Library, 2 SulejmanaOmerovića Cara St. Location in Maglaj is subject to change.
2. Ljubuški, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Next to the City Administration building, 1 Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square
3. Zavidovići, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building
4. Čapljina, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building
September 17, 2026
1. Zvornik, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the City Administration building
2. Stolac, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Public Institution “Radimlja” / City Administration, Banovinska bb
3. Živinice, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Alije Izetbegovića Street – BH Pošta building
4. Gacko, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
September 18, 2026
1. Prnjavor, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Serbian Fighters Square
2. Bileća, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, In front of the Municipal Building, 28 Kralja Aleksandra St.
3. Derventa, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Liberation Square
4. Trebinje, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Plateau in front of the Tourist Organization of the City of Trebinje, Jovana Dučićabb
September 19, 2026
1. Banja Luka, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
2. Banja Luka, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Location to be confirmed later
September 25, 2026
1. Sarajevo, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Mercator Center (Ložionička)
2. Sarajevo, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, In front of the Ilidža Municipal Building
