CEC: OLD BALLOTS AND NEW ELECTORAL COMMITTEES FOR FEBRUARY 8 VOTING

SARAJEVO, JANUARY 8 /SRNA/ – At the repeat snap presidential elections in Republika Srpska, to be held on February 8 at 136 polling stations in 17 basic constituencies, unused ballots will be used, while the process will be monitored by new electoral committees.

During the discussion on the instruction for conducting the repeat elections, CEC member Željko Bakalar specified that electprel committee members at polling stations where voting will be repeated, including the chairpersons, cannot be the same individuals who served on November 23, and that political subjects will not be allowed to nominate persons who were members at that time. The Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH also adopted an instruction today on the preparation, protection, and packaging of ballots for the conduct of the repeat snap presidential elections in Republika Srpska, stipulating that unused ballots will be used in the February 8 voting. "We decided to take over unused ballots from the recently held elections for reasons of rationality and savings, as well as other logistic-related issues. I believe that in this way we will ensure that unused ballots, which bear no markings, will be legal - protected and packaged at a printing house designated by the CEC," said Commission member Ahmet Šantić. Bakalar explained that the ballots will be printed with an indication that they are for repeat elections, which will distinguish them from other unused ballots. "There is no concern that other unused ballots will be misused," Bakalar said, noting that the ballots will be originally packaged. Referring to media reports regarding the issue of an election campaign for the repeat snap presidential elections in Srpska, Šantić emphasized that there is no campaign for these elections, but that there will be an election silence period, which will be determined once the schedule of electoral activities is adopted. He noted that the only actions the CEC can sanction are certain statements by political subjects that contaminate the electoral process, as well as statements made during the period of election silence. On December 24, the CEC of BiH annulled the snap presidential elections in Republika Srpska at 136 polling stations in 17 constituencies. According to the CEC decision, the elections will be repeated at certain polling stations in Prijedor, Laktaši, Banja Luka, Doboj, Stanari, Lopare, Ugljevik, Osmaci, Zvornik, Vlasenica, Bratunac, Nevesinje, Gacko, Rudo, Bileća, Milići, and Brčko. It was previously announced that BAM 600,000 will need to be earmarked from the budget of the BiH institutions to conduct the repeat snap elections.