Commission says everything is ready: First recall referendum for mayor in KS to be held in Old Town on Sunday

(Patria) - Citizens of the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo will decide on Sunday, July 23, 2023, on the recall of the municipal mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, which will be the first recorded case of a recall being held in KS to date. Voting will take place at 46 polling stations, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. 36,193 voters will have the right to vote, and they will express their opinion via a ballot on whether they are FOR or AGAINST the recall of the municipal mayor.

The decision to initiate the recall of the municipal mayor was made by the Old Town Sarajevo Municipal Council at an extraordinary session held on June 12, 2023, and a Commission for the Implementation of the Recall Procedure was formed.

Commission President Mirza Imamović confirmed that the Commission has carried out all
necessary activities required for holding the referendum.

“This is the first time in FBiH that a referendum for the recall of a municipal mayor is being held, while there have been three such cases in RS so far. The Commission for the Implementation of the Recall Procedure has carried out all necessary activities, and citizens will be able to exercise their democratic right to vote For or Against the recall of the current mayor without hindrance on Sunday. All polling stations will be open at 7:00 AM, and the process will largely be the same as in regular elections. Polling stations close at 7:00 PM, followed by the counting of ballots. We can expect the first
preliminary referendum results 7 hours after the polling stations close,” explained Imamović.

Voting will also be conducted by mail and mobile teams.

He also spoke about the activities the Commission carried out in previous months to ensure everything was ready for the referendum.

“The Commission carried out the procedure for printing ballots, which in the case of regular elections are provided by the Central Election Commission of BiH, while in this case, the entire procedure is managed by the Commission for the Implementation of the Recall Procedure. All materials are ready for voting on Sunday, and on July 7, 2023, we sent registered mail to all voters registered for postal voting.

These mailings contain a form with personal data, the corresponding ballot, a return envelope with the Commission's address, and an envelope for the ballot that ensures voting secrecy. There are 587 voters on the list for postal voting, and I would emphasize that their votes must be sent by mail no later than July 23, 2023,” stated Imamović.

Those who are unable to vote at polling stations due to illness will be able to exercise their right through mobile teams.

“All those who are prevented from voting at polling stations due to illness, and who have completed the forms and submitted medical documentation on time, will be able to vote through mobile teams. The Commission has received 48 requests for voting via mobile teams, and we have formed 4 mobile teams that will cover the area on Sunday.”

In case of recall, the CEC decides on extraordinary elections.

Imamović also explained how long it would take to get the final referendum results and what would follow.

“We expect the first results 7 hours after the polling stations close, then the next day until 7:00 PM, by which time we will have counted the votes from mobile teams and the votes cast with unconfirmed ballots, as well as absentee ballots. Only after the mail-in votes arrive and are counted can we expect the final referendum results. This will be no later than 15 days after the referendum is held. The Commission will confirm the election results no later than 30 days from the date of the referendum,” said Imamović.

Depending on whether citizens vote For or Against the recall of the municipal mayor, the Central Election Commission of BiH will verify the decision to revoke or continue the municipal mayor's mandate. In case of mandate revocation, the Central Election Commission of BiH will decide on holding extraordinary elections within 60 days.

More than 400 people will work on the referendum.

Around 400 people will be engaged in conducting the referendum for the recall of the municipal mayor in Old Town on Sunday.

“Last weekend, training sessions were held for all members of the polling station committees, with members from all 46 polling stations invited and given detailed instructions and training on how to conduct the process.”

Imamović added that no political entity registered observers for the election process within the deadlines set by the Instructions for the Implementation of the Recall of the Municipal Mayor, nor have any international observers been registered.

According to estimates, the implementation of the referendum on the recall of the municipal mayor in the Old Town Municipality of Sarajevo will cost up to 120,000 KM, and the Commission for the Implementation of the Recall Procedure has made maximum efforts to minimize costs and achieve budget savings.