Bosnia and Herzegovina, General Elections, 4 October 2026

Observation of general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Following an official invitation to observe the 4 October 2026 general elections, based on the findings and conclusions of ODIHR’s Needs Assessment Mission, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for these elections. 

Long-term observation

The mission is led by Tana de Zulueta and consists of a core team of 13 experts based in Sarajevo. In addition, 26 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 28 August.

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely follow fundamental components of the elections such as:

• election-related legislation and its implementation
• the work of the election administration and relevant state institutions
• the use of election technologies
• voter registration 
• candidate registration
• campaign environment and activities, including online and through social media platforms
• institutional preparedness and effectiveness to detect and address disinformation, foreign and domestic misinformation and interference, co-operation with social media platforms 
• campaign finance, including its regulation, transparency and accountability
• media environment and media coverage of the elections
• the resolution of election-related disputes

The observers will also assess how prior ODIHR election related recommendations have been considered. The ODIHR EOM will conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign and campaign activities on social networks.

Election day 

ODIHR will request the secondment of 300 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow the election day proceedings. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two, which will monitor:

• the opening of polling stations
• the voting
• the counting of ballots
• the tabulation of results at all levels.

Co-operation with Other Partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO and the European Parliament intend to deploy observer delegations for these elections.

The day after the elections, ODIHR, together with its international partners, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued some months after the end of the election process.

Previous elections 

ODIHR has previously observed 13 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, most recently the 2025 early election for the president of Republika Srpska.

Mission at a glance

• Head of Mission: Tana de Zulueta
• Core team of 13 experts from 12 OSCE participating States, based in Sarajevo
• 26 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
• 300 short-term observers to be requested from participating States

Mission schedule

19 August:                  Arrival of the core team
26 August:                  Arrival of long-term observers
28 August:                  Deployment of long-term observers throughout the country
30 September:           Arrival of short-term observers
2 October:                  Deployment of short-term observers throughout the country
4 October:                  Election day
5 October:                  Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
7 October:                  Departure of short-term observers
11 October:                Departure of long-term observers
15 October:                Departure of the core team