Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are commonly called izbori. They operate within the country's decentralized system, so voters may choose several different institutions on the same election day. General elections cover institutions at the state, entity, and, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, cantonal levels. Local elections choose municipal or city councils and assemblies, as well as mayors under the applicable local system. The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina is commonly known as Centralna izborna komisija Bosne i Hercegovine or CIK BiH. It administers the election framework, certifies candidates and results, and oversees important parts of the voting process. The Parliamentary Assembly's House of Representatives is elected by voters, while the House of Peoples is formed indirectly through other representative bodies. Proportional representation is widely used for assemblies, meaning parties and candidate lists receive seats according to their share of valid votes under the applicable rules. The three-member Presidency reflects the country's power-sharing structure. Voters in the Federation vote within the contests for the Bosniak and Croat members, while voters in Republika Srpska vote in the contest for the Serb member. Entity elections also differ. Voters elect representative bodies in both entities, while the Federation additionally has cantonal assemblies and Republika Srpska elects its own entity president under its constitutional system. A voter's registered residence determines the polling station and which territorial contests appear on the ballot. Special procedures may exist for eligible citizens voting away from their usual place, but these normally require timely registration and verification. At a polling station, officials check the voter against the electoral register and provide the relevant ballot papers. The voter marks them privately, folds them as instructed, and places them in the designated ballot boxes. Elections offer peaceful participation and public accountability, but the institutional design can be difficult to understand. A vote directly selects some officials, helps distribute assembly seats, and indirectly influences the formation of governments and other bodies.