Bosnia Vote: 28 Polling Stations for Serbian Citizens
Serbia's embassy in Bosnia has published where Serbian citizens can vote on Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and what they must bring to the polling station.
Serbian citizens who find themselves in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, October 25, will be able to vote in the parliamentary elections at 28 polling stations, the Serbian Embassy in Bosnia told the Srna news agency. The list of locations was published on October 21, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., in line with a decision of the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK).
The announcement follows our earlier report that Bosnia had allowed Serbian citizens to vote on October 25. At that point it was known that voting would take place, but not where, so this list is the first concrete information for voters in the country.
Who can vote, and what do you bring to the polling station?
Voting is not open to anyone who happens to turn up at a school or consulate. In its statement, the embassy said the right to vote is tied to the polling station where the voter is registered:
“Voters who are registered in the extract from the voter register for that polling station will be able to exercise their right to vote.”
The embassy also noted that voters should bring a valid Serbian ID card or passport.
Where can you vote in Bosnia?
The embassy listed the locations one by one. We have grouped them here by type of venue.
Diplomatic missions and business premises:
- Serbian Embassy in Sarajevo
- consulates general in Banja Luka and Mostar
- consular offices in Trebinje and Drvar
- the business building and M:tel telecom center in Banja Luka
Elementary schools:
- “Vuk Karadzic” in Bijeljina, Vlasenica and Novo Gorazde
- “Vuk Karadzic,” branch of the Branjevo local community in Zvornik
- “Sveti Sava” in Zvornik, Lopare and Foca
- “Srbija” in Pale
- “Desanka Maksimovic” in Prijedor
- “Sokolac”
Secondary school centers:
- Bratunac
- “Ivo Andric” in Visegrad
- “27 January” in Rogatica
- Mrkonjic Grad and Rudo
Community and culture centers:
- “Srpska kuca” (Serbian House) in Brcko
- Gradiska Cultural Center
- Center for Culture and Education in Doboj
- Serbian Cultural Center in Modrica
- “Filip Visnjic” Culture Center in Ugljevik
Why does the embassy say 28 stations when the list has 27?
The embassy speaks of 28 polling stations, as do the agencies that carried its statement. When we counted the published locations ourselves, we arrived at 27, and only if the business building and the M:tel telecom center in Banja Luka are counted as two separate stations. The statement does not explain the difference, so the safest course is for voters to check their polling station in their voter register extract before setting out.
The wider picture: 93 stations abroad
On a proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Republic Electoral Commission designated 93 polling stations abroad. RIK chairman Vladimir Dimitrijevic said 102,147 voters had registered to vote abroad.
The length of voting was also a point of dispute. The Administrative Court rejected complaints from the Student List and upheld the RIK decision that voting at all polling stations abroad lasts 13 hours and ends no later than 8 p.m. Serbian time.
