Bosnia votes in general election; AP reports delays with new digital voting system

Bosnia and Herzegovina is holding a general election on Sunday, 4 October 2026, according to France 24 and the Associated Press (AP). Polls opened in the morning, France 24 reported.

Around 3.4 million voters are choosing the three members of the multi-ethnic presidency, lawmakers for the national Parliament, and heads of institutions in the two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, according to France 24. It said 75 political parties are running.

New voting technology

Authorities are using electronic voter identification and ballot scanning for the first time, France 24 reported. The measure is intended to prevent irregularities or organised voter manipulation, which had cast doubt on the fairness of previous elections, according to the outlet.

AP journalists saw multiple polling places where voting could not begin on time on Sunday morning because of difficulties with the new technology, France 24 reported. The reports do not say how many polling places were affected, how long the delays lasted or whether they were resolved. They include no statement from election authorities.

Dodik off the ballot

Milorad Dodik, former president of Republika Srpska, has been banned from public office after being convicted of defying decisions by the international envoy overseeing the 1995 peace agreement, according to France 24. He is not on the ballot for the first time in nearly 30 years but has dominated the campaign, the outlet said.

France 24 describes his party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, as likely to win in Republika Srpska. It gives no polling or other basis for that assessment.

Dodik recently returned from Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, France 24 reported. It said Russia's ambassador, Igor Khalabukov, attended the party's final rally in Banja Luka on Friday night.

The campaign followed the death in late August of Ratko Mladic, the wartime Bosnian Serb army commander. He was serving a life sentence for genocide and other war crimes, according to France 24. Key Bosnian Serb officials attended his funeral service in Belgrade, the outlet reported.

What each side says

• Dodik: France 24 quoted him telling supporters that Bosnia "is dead". "It is an impossible country. It doesn’t make any sense," he said, according to the outlet.
• Dragan Bursac, analyst: France 24 quoted him as saying Dodik "is still in command. He is everywhere", and that the measures banning him "are not working, and he is using them".
• Western countries: They are concerned that the push by Bosnian Serb leaders to separate Republika Srpska could cause tensions to spill over again, according to France 24.
• On the Mladic funeral: France 24 says the European Union harshly criticised the service and Bosniak politicians were angered, while Bosnian Serbs view Mladic as a hero. It quotes no statements.
• Voters: France 24 quoted Sarajevo resident Durak Miler as saying governing politicians "just poison people when they talk". It quoted Mostar resident Salko Bijavica as saying the new system gives "hope to people that elections will be fair".

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi come from a single origin, as France 24's account relies on AP reporting. They include no results or turnout figures.

Analysis

The vote tests two things at once: whether new identification and scanning technology can strengthen trust in the count, and how much influence Dodik retains without holding office. If the reported morning delays prove limited, the system may reassure voters such as those France 24 quoted; if they prove widespread, they could instead fuel challenges to the outcome. A strong showing by Dodik's party would likely keep the question of Republika Srpska's status prominent, while a weaker one could shift attention to everyday concerns and to stalled European Union membership talks. None of these outcomes can be judged from the reports available so far.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.