Oct 7, 2024-Local elections are being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, though voting has been postponed in areas hit by severe flooding and landslides. Heavy rains last Friday caused widespread damage, claiming at least 18 lives and leaving parts of the country inaccessible.
Polling stations remain open across much of the country, but authorities have delayed voting in several municipalities, including Jablanica, Konjic, Kiseljak, Kreševo, and Fojnica. The Central Election Commission stated that the postponement was necessary to ensure public safety amid ongoing rescue operations and recovery efforts.
These elections mark the eighth round of local polls since the end of Bosnia’s war in 1995. Voters will elect 143 mayors and 3,200 council members in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Br?ko District.
The contest features a wide array of political groups. Bosniak parties are running under different alliances, while many Serbian and Croatian parties are backing joint candidates. More than 100 parties, 58 alliances, and nearly 80 independent candidates are vying for votes from 3.4 million registered citizens.
The elections come as the country grapples with the aftermath of last week’s deadly floods. Emergency services are still working in the worst-hit areas, where dozens of homes have been destroyed, and roads remain blocked.
Polling stations are open until 7 p.m. local time, although the delayed areas will vote at a later date once conditions improve.
