Bosnia and Herzegovina Strengthens Cooperation to Protect Elections

On 17 and 19 June 2026, International IDEA convened two multi-stakeholder workshops in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the Protecting Electoral Processes in the Information Environment project. The workshops brought together representatives of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC), government institutions, media regulators, civil society organisations, fact-checking initiatives, and other key electoral stakeholders to jointly assess the country’s information environment around elections and develop a roadmap for collaborative action ahead of the October 2026 general elections.

The workshops mark the launch of the first two phases of the project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mapping the information environment around elections and developing a country-specific roadmap to strengthen resilience against information-related risks. Through International IDEA’s multi-stakeholder methodology, participants analysed the main risks affecting electoral integrity, identified safeguards, and agreed on practical measures to enhance cooperation among institutions and other electoral actors.

The mapping exercise examined how information flows throughout the electoral cycle and identified a range of challenges affecting public trust in elections. Participants highlighted persistent political polarisation, misleading and manipulative narratives targeting democratic institutions, inconsistent public communication, limited voter education, and gaps in coordination among electoral stakeholders. Particular attention was given to the introduction of new electoral technologies ahead of the 2026 elections, recognising both their potential to strengthen electoral integrity and the need for clear public communication to prevent misinformation and misunderstandings.

Building on those findings, the roadmap exercise translated the identified risks into a shared set of priorities and concrete actions for implementation. Participants agreed on measures to strengthen voter education and public communication, improve cooperation and information-sharing between the CEC and civil society, enhance monitoring of information-related threats, support fact-checking and election observation efforts, and improve institutional preparedness and crisis communication throughout the electoral cycle.

The workshops also provided an opportunity for stakeholders from different sectors to exchange perspectives and establish a common understanding of the challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s information environment. By bringing together electoral authorities, public institutions, media regulators, and civil society, the project supports a collaborative (‘whole-of-society') approach to protecting elections and strengthening trust in democratic processes.  

The roadmap developed during the events will guide future cooperation among participating organisations and serve as a foundation for the next phase of the project, which focuses on supporting national stakeholders in taking practical steps towards implementation. Through sustained multi-stakeholder engagement, the project aims to strengthen resilience against information-related risks and contribute to credible, inclusive, and trusted elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For more information, visit the Protecting Electoral Processes in the Information Environment project webpage.