Citizens’ perceptions, experiences and opinions of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina commissioned a state-wide survey on the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina in summer 2021. The aim of the survey was to identify citizens’ perceptions, experiences and understanding of elections, their views on the importance of voting, their perceived role in the electoral process, and how they participate in politics in general. Many different surveys and polls have looked at elections in BiH. Most attempted to collect data on technical aspects of the process and aimed to extrapolate voting patterns and voter preference. These research initiatives provide very useful factual data on voting trends and rates of electoral participation in BiH. Rarely, however, have these surveys sought to examine citizens’ perceptions of the electoral process or to present a broader understanding of elections and political life.