Mock elections – Challenges and lessons learned
Sarajevo, 11 September 2026 – In relation to the mock elections scheduled to be held today in all municipalities/cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in continuous session and constant communication with municipal/city election commissions, as, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, some polling stations have still not been opened.
Namely, test ballot papers were not delivered to certain polling stations in a timely manner, which will serve as a lesson learned for better organization of the distribution and transportation of equipment and election material for the General Elections scheduled for 4 October 2026.
All municipal/city election commissions have been informed to open the polling stations for mock elections immediately upon fulfilment of the necessary conditions and to inform the public and voters accordingly, as well as to extend the test voting period in accordance with the time at which the polling station is opened, but no later than 6:00 p.m.
The mock elections are being conducted as a preparatory activity within the meaning of Article 20.16e, paragraph (2) of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the purpose of comprehensively testing the functionality, integrity, security, reliability and applicability of specific election technologies under conditions of a simulated electoral process.