Polling boards are the weakest link in Bosnia's electoral system

The main problem of the 2014 General Elections are the Polling Boards, which, often serving certain political options, try to change the will of the citizens, and they do this best through a system of writing in and lobbying for certain political options and candidates, said political analyst Almir Terzić about the events surrounding the recount of votes from more than 120 polling stations, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- Great illogicalities have been noticed in the Main Counting Center regarding the relationship between the number of votes for parties and candidates, the votes that candidates won. In certain environments, Polling Boards are at the service of certain candidates and, thus favoring their entry into assemblies and parliaments, they write in certain votes, which is a criminal offense - states Terzić.

He recalled that such cases have been recorded before, which were sanctioned with fines and a ban on performing duties in the election administration.

- I believe that the Central Election Commission will act this time as well where it is proven that there was electoral engineering. Polling Boards are the weakest link in Bosnia's electoral system and, urgently, through amendments to the Election Law, it should be established that these cannot be politically appointed persons, but at least persons who are employed in the state administration in order to prevent attempts at electoral fraud and theft - said Terzić.

As for the duration of the vote counting process, Terzić states that we have a big problem because we have a system by which votes are counted for four levels of government.

- There is an obligation to count votes for 7901 candidates (whether they are party or independent). So, candidate votes, not just parties and coalitions, and that is why the process of verifying ballots is slower. It is good that they are verified in the Main Counting Center because that reduces the possibility of electoral engineering. It should not be ruled out that at some levels the results may be annulled if there is a large deviation - said Terzić for Patria.

He once again emphasized that an urgent amendment to the electoral legislation is needed in order to reduce electoral theft.