The OHR, the OSCE Mission to BiH and the Council of Europe Office in BiH today expressed their full support for the BiH Central Election Commission, and commended in particular the statement issued by the CEC clarifying the status of the Central Voter Register and upholding the right of all registered voters to cast their ballot on 7 October.
The OHR, OSCE and the CoE met with representatives of the Central Election Commission on Friday following reports concerning the status of newly registered residents and possible implications for voters which had caused concern and confusion.
The CEC’s statement makes it clear that anyone whose name was on the Central Voter Register in the Srebrenica Municipality, or any other municipality, on 24 August this year is entitled to vote in that municipality.
The CEC also addressed the status of newly registered residents, making it clear that individuals are entitled to register for residence after 24 August, but that this does not give them voting rights in the new municipality of residence for the elections on 7 October.
The rules laid out in the BiH Election Law are clear; the CEC will uphold these rules, and the elections, in Srebrenica and across Bosnia and Herzegovina will be conducted strictly and transparently according to these rules.