Voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina are choosing a tripartite presidency, a national parliament and entity institutions on Sunday, with preliminary results due after polls close.
Bosnians are voting on Sunday for the three members of the state presidency and the national parliament, and for legislatures in the two entities created by the 1995 Dayton accord. Republika Srpska is also electing its president. Reuters said the result could affect the pace of European Union accession talks.
The country remains split between the Serb-majority Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, linked by a weak central government. Reuters described voter frustration over a slower economy, slow EU talks and repeated deadlock among ethnically based parties.
Al Jazeera, citing AFP and AP, reported that about 3.4 million voters are eligible and that biometric fingerprint checks and ballot scanning are being used for the first time. AFP reported delays at dozens of polling stations as that equipment was rolled out.
Reuters cited the Poliwave tracker putting the SDA narrowly ahead nationally on 21.4 percent, with the SDP on 16.7 percent, and SNSD ahead in Republika Srpska on 34.2 percent. Those figures are polling-platform readings, not results.
Polls close at 19:00 local time, 17:00 GMT. The Central Election Commission is expected to release preliminary results later on Sunday, Reuters reported.
People Sentiments Neutral
- Reuters described growing voter frustration over the economy and stalled decisions.
- AFP quoted a voter saying the situation had in some ways never been worse.
- No national exit poll had been published at the time of this brief.