Unfounded Appeals and Shifting Deadlines: A Serious Challenge to the Implementation of New Technologies in the 2026 General Elections
Sarajevo, 15 January 2026 – The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH) informs the public of the continuation of the public procurement procedure for the system of biometric voter identification and ballot paper scanning, following the removal of procedural obstacles caused by unfounded appeals.
By its decisions of 30 December 2025 and 13 January 2026, the Procurement Review Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina rejected the lodged appeals as unfounded, thereby confirming the correctness of the actions undertaken by the CEC BiH. We particularly emphasize that the Procurement Review Body confirmed the Commission’s earlier assertions that the economic operator which lodged as many as three appeals failed to prove the existence of active legal standing, nor to demonstrate that it even hypothetically possesses the necessary financial and technical capacities for the implementation of such a complex project.
The CEC BiH warns that the continuous filing of unfounded appeals results in a reduction of the time frame for contract implementation, which represents an exceptional organizational challenge for the implementation of new technologies in the upcoming 2026 General Elections.
The unfounded use of legal remedies for the purpose of obstruction affects not only the contracting authority, but directly endangers the integrity of the electoral process and causes harm to the public interest. Any further delay may jeopardize the technical preparation and full implementation of systems that are crucial for the prevention of electoral fraud.
The new deadline for the submission of bids for the public procurement of the system for biometric voter identification and ballot paper scanning at polling stations is 30 January 2026 by 14:00, and the public opening of bids is scheduled for the same day at 14:15, except in the event of a potential new appeal aimed at further obstructing the procedure.
The CEC BiH remains committed to transparency and legality, but calls upon all stakeholders to act responsibly, emphasizing that the integrity of elections and the will of citizens are a priority that must not be held hostage to unfounded procedural manipulations.
The Decision of the Procurement Review Body No. JN2-01-07-1-2009-8/25 is available here.
The Decision of the Procurement Review Body No. JN2-01-07-1-2066-11/25 is available here.