Nationwide Training Drive Prepares Municipal Election Commissions for Upcoming Elections in BiH

SARAJEVO, 10 December 2025 - To ensure that elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are conducted professionally, transparently, and in line with international standards, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) and the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH) have jointly strengthened the capacities of local election administration through an extensive series of nationwide capacity-building programme. By equipping Municipal Election Commissions (MEC) with the necessary skills, the initiative improves procedural consistency, strengthens the credibility of electoral administration, and ultimately increases public trust in the electoral process.

More than 475 representatives from 143 MEC participated in comprehensive training sessions, held from 26 November to 10 December 2025, across six locations in BiH: Sarajevo, Mostar, Bihać, Banja Luka, Teslić, and Tuzla.

The training sessions focused on the core responsibilities of MEC representatives, including the formation of polling stations and the appointment of mobile teams to ensure smooth, consistent, and effective electoral operations. Participants also examined ethical standards and election risk management; areas essential to safeguarding the credibility and integrity of elections. Each participant received the MEC Operating Manual, a key tool that standardizes procedures and strengthens the consistency and transparency of MEC operations across the country.

Jovan Kalaba, CEC BiH President, emphasized the most important segments of the electoral process is the education of the election administration: “A well-trained election administration is key to the successful conduct of elections.” According to Kalaba, thanks to the long-standing support of the Mission, the CEC BiH is able to successfully and timely prepare members of municipal/city election commissions ahead of each election in BiH for potential challenges and present to them any new developments in the electoral process.

Ahmed Rifatbegović, Political Officer at the Mission, underscored the broader democratic impact of investing in MECs’ capacities: “By investing in the skills and preparedness of MECs, we are investing directly in the credibility of elections. These training sessions help ensure that local election bodies are equipped to perform their duties professionally, transparently, and in line with international standards, ultimately reinforcing citizens’ trust in the democratic process.”

These sessions are part of the Mission’s Project “Improving the Integrity of the 2024 and 2026 Electoral Processes in BiH in Line with ODIHR Recommendations and International Standards,” aimed at strengthening MECs’ competencies and protecting the integrity of democratic processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.