The election campaign for the General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina began on October 4. It will last until October 3, at 7:00 a.m., when election silence comes into effect. During this period, political parties, coalitions and candidates can officially present their programs and use paid political advertising. Slightly more than 3.4 million registered citizens will have the right to vote at 5,200 polling stations.
Voters will elect members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President and two Vice-Presidents of Republika Srpska, and representatives in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH and the cantonal assemblies.
Billboards, promotional materials, posters, campaign promises of party leaders and slogans marked the first day of the election campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina reminds of the ban on the use of hate speech in public spaces.
“‘Speech of hate’ is any form of public expression or speech that causes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence against any person or group of persons, on the basis of race, skin color, nationality, gender or religion, ethnic origin or any other personal characteristic or orientation,” the CEC of BiH notes.
For the first time, voting will take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the help of election technologies. Voters will be identified through a biometric identification device, and the ballot will be placed in a scanner instead of in a box.
It is interesting that in the upcoming elections, 82 political subjects have been certified, almost twice as many as in the general elections of 2022, where there were 145. One of the reasons is that members of electoral committees can only be from parliamentary parties.
The campaign of the Association of Citizens “Sharp Zero” under the name “When one day is worth 4 years” has also started. It refers to the education of voters on social networks and directly through conversations, related to electoral technologies and newspapers in voting.
The law also limits how much politicians, parties and coalitions can spend during the campaign. It is stipulated that for the election of members of the Presidency and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President and Vice President of the Republika Srpska, the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH and the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska, the limit is 30 pfennigs per voter, while for the elections for cantonal assemblies, they can spend 20 pfennigs per voter.
