CEC ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEMS WITH TRIAL ELECTIONS

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 11 /SRNA/ – The Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH said that, "due to unforeseen circumstances," some polling stations have not yet opened in today's trial elections.

"For some polling stations, trial ballots were not delivered in a timely manner, which will be a lesson learned for better organisation of the distribution and transportation of equipment and election materials for the general elections scheduled for October 4," the BiH CEC said. The CEC said that it is "in continuous session and in communication with municipal/city election commissions". All municipal/city election commissions have been instructed to open polling stations for the trial elections immediately once the necessary conditions are met and to inform the public and voters accordingly. They have also been instructed to extend the trial voting period in accordance with the time at which the polling station opens, but no later than 6:00 p.m. The trial elections are being conducted in accordance with the Election Law of BiH as a preparatory activity aimed at comprehensively testing the functionality, integrity, security, reliability and applicability of specific electoral technologies under simulated election conditions.