Bosnia and Herzegovina prepares for October 2026 general election

Bosnia and Herzegovina election 2026 Semir Efendić biometric voting SDA candidate lists Slaven Kovačević dispute

The upcoming October 2026 general election in Bosnia and Herzegovina is shaping up with several key developments. The BESA – Independent Movement announced its support for Semir Efendić, the president of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a candidate for the state Presidency. The Central Election Commission (CIK) released the design of the ballot papers and detailed new voting procedures, including the first use of biometric fingerprint identification and the deployment of 150 ballot‑scanning devices.

The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) published its candidate lists for all levels of government, featuring prominent figures such as Irfan Halilagić, Haris Zahiragić, and Alija Tabaković. Meanwhile, the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) filed a legal challenge against Slaven Kovačević’s candidacy for the Croat seat in the Presidency, arguing that he cannot legitimately represent the Croat constituency. These actions reflect intense party maneuvering ahead of the election.

Entities: Bosnia and Herzegovina · Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina · Elmedin Konaković · Irfan Halilagić · Jusuf Arifagić · Narod i pravda (People and Justice) · Party of Democratic Action (SDA) · Semir Efendić · Slaven Kovačević