CEC: It is not about recounting votes but about analyzing invalid ballots

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Regarding the misinformation that has been circulated in some media in recent days about the activities of the Central Election Commission of BiH, as an alleged „recounting of ballots“, the Central Election Commission issued a statement for the public. 

"Although the number of invalid ballots in the past election cycle is approximately the same as in all previous election cycles, and due to the issues related to this category of ballots, the CEC of BiH decided, within its personnel, financial and spatial capabilities, and before the destruction of election material, to conduct a professional analysis of the reasons why they were declared invalid. This activity has been formally approved and is being carried out within the previously established methodology prepared by experts from the Election Department, on a representative sample of 5% of polling stations from both entities and Brčko District for all four levels of government for which elections were held in 2018.

Within this analysis, only the structure of invalid ballots by groups (unfilled-blank, crossed out, written in, signed or intentionally altered) is determined. All other circumstances and facts related to this category of ballots will also be determined (indications pointing to a possible tendency of boycott, ignorance or manipulation in filling out ballots) which could in the future
serve as a factual and professional basis for taking measures and amending regulations aimed at improving this segment of the electoral process.

Any other interpretation of this activity is arbitrary and can be considered ill-intentioned", the CEC stated.