USA Supports Transparent Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo (FENA) – The United States government has announced a significant investment of USD 500,000 to support the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This funding will facilitate a pilot project aimed at implementing new election technologies during the municipal elections scheduled for October 2024. The initiative is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project, Support to Electoral Integrity in BiH (USAID SEI), which commenced in October 2023 to enhance electoral reforms in line with international standards. Courtney Chubb, Mission Director of USAID in BiH, emphasized the commitment to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections, stating that the new technologies will improve the voting experience while minimizing errors and fraud in vote counting. The pilot project will utilize optical scanners to directly transmit results from 145 polling stations across selected municipalities, chosen to reflect the demographic and political diversity of BiH. The introduction of this technology is part of a broader four-year USAID initiative valued at USD 5.5 million, which aims to bolster election integrity. In addition to the pilot project, USAID SEI will provide comprehensive support to electoral bodies, including strategic planning, capacity building, and voter education initiatives. Furthermore, the project will assist civil society organizations in election observation by offering innovative open-source digital tools in collaboration with the Pod Lupom coalition, enhancing transparency and public trust in the electoral process.