CEC BiH: Election campaign starts tomorrow and ends on October 11 at 7 AM

The Central Election Commission of BiH announced that the election campaign for the General Elections 2014 officially starts tomorrow, September 12, and lasts until October 11, 2014, at 07:00 AM, when election silence begins, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

This is a period in which political entities, in a manner prescribed by law, inform voters and the public about their programs and candidates. During this period, political entities are prohibited from:
1) removing, covering, damaging, or altering printed advertisements, posters, billboards, or other materials used for the election campaign.
2) conducting campaigns in a manner that violates gender equality,
3) placing printed, written, or any other material related to the election campaign inside or on buildings housing authorities at all levels, public enterprises, public institutions, and local communities, as well as on religious buildings, public roads, and public areas, meaning it is only allowed in places designated for posting and advertising;
4) carrying and displaying weapons at political rallies, polling stations, and their surroundings;
5) disrupting the gatherings of other political entities, as well as inciting others to such activities;
6) preventing journalists from performing their duties in accordance with professional and electoral rules;
7) misrepresenting oneself on behalf of any political entity;

One of the legal prohibitions in the rules of conduct for political entities in the election campaign is the use of language that could incite or encourage violence or hatred.

The Central Election Commission of BiH calls on political parties, candidates, and supporters of political parties, coalitions, as well as independent candidates and their supporters, and employees or otherwise engaged in election administration to refrain from using nationalist and anti-state rhetoric, to refrain from inflammatory statements, and to conduct a fair election campaign. The Central Election Commission of BiH calls on media representatives and voters to contribute to the campaign and the entire electoral process taking place in a democratic environment.

Chapter 15 of the Election Law of BiH (Article 15.10) prescribes the maximum allowable amount for financing election campaign costs. A solution was found in limiting the financial resources that can be spent in the campaign, stipulating that a maximum of 30 feninga (20 for the cantonal level) per voter can be spent in the electoral unit where the political entity has an accredited candidate list, reports Patria.