OHR Publishes General Information on the Election Integrity Improvement Package in BiH

(Patria) - General information on the Election Integrity Improvement Package, as the decision of High Representative Christian Schmidt, imposed today using his Bonn powers, is officially called, has been published on the official website of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

"We are approaching another election, and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have not addressed numerous problems, doubts, and uncertainties from previous election cycles, as well as huge discrepancies with international democratic standards that international partners have been pointing out for 15 years.

Therefore, the High Representative recognized the need to intervene, considering the inability or unwillingness of domestic authorities to correct serious shortcomings in the election process.

Voters in BiH must have an equal opportunity to participate in elections and must be sure that their vote is adequately counted and respected in the subsequent formation of government. Election fraud must be systematically prevented.

With this goal, and after numerous consultations with international partners, domestic institutions, political representatives, and non-governmental organizations, the High Representative has adopted a package of measures to improve the integrity of the election process in BiH.

This package covers a large number of areas. In short, these changes relate to the following areas:

- Improving integrity and oversight in voting and vote counting, including increased security in handling election materials before and after voting, and professionalization of polling station committees;

- Greater transparency in voter registration, especially concerning absentee voters and refugees, as well as checks on the accuracy of the voter registry;

- More transparent and secure conduct of elections from start to finish, which includes, among other things, electronic voter identification, video surveillance, and electronic vote counting;

- Clearer protection of human and civil rights before, during, and after elections, including more precise procedures for resolving complaints and imposing sanctions, and improving gender equality;

- Preventing voter manipulation, including through stricter measures against premature political promotion and fake news, with greater transparency regarding campaign and media financing; and

- Unimpeded conduct of elections with timely provision of funds for conducting elections and better definition of the powers, integrity, and independence of the Central Election Commission.

Given the scope of this package, as well as the short time before the next elections, it is foreseen that these measures will be introduced gradually in selected pilot areas in the Municipal Elections 2024, in order to test and enable broad application for the General Elections 2026," it was published on the OHR website.