The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Provisional Election Commission (PEC) ceased to exist after the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the session of the House of Representatives held on August 21, 2001 and at the session of the House of People held on August 23, 2001. The Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina was thus established.
On November 16, the High Representative appointed members of the BiH Election Commission from the list proposed by the Provisional Commission for Appointments which consisted of members of the Commission for Electing and Appointing Judges of the BiH Court and international members of the BiH Election Commission.
The following persons were appointed as members of the BiH Election Commission: Branko Petrić, representative of the Serb people, Lidija Korać, representative of the Croat people, Hilmo Pašić, representative of the Bosniak people, Vehid Šehić, representative of the Others, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, representative of the International community, Ambassador Dr. Gerhard Enver Schrönbergs, representative of the International community and Ambassador Victor A Tkachenko, representative of the International community.
The constitutional session of the BiH Election Commission was held on November 20, 2001, and thus the Provisional Election Commission officially ceased to exist. A decision on establishing the Secretariat of the BiH Election Commission was passed at the same session. The Secretariat conducts professional and administrative-technical duties for the BiH Election Commission, the Complaints and Appeals Council and the Appellative Council.
At the second session of the BiH Election Commission held on 27 November, 2001, Ms Lidija Korać was elected its first president. The BiH Election Commission adopted its Rules of Procedure at the same session.
At 46th session of the BiH Election Commission held on February 27, 2003 rotation procedure on president position of this institution was made. Mr. Hilmo Pašić was elected second president and Mr. Vehid Šehić was elected third president. Following rotation on this position took place on August 18, 2005 when Mr. Branko Petrić was elected president. From November 16, 2006 to February 15, 2008 Mr. Stjepan Mikić was the president of BiH Central Election Commission. From February 15, 2008 to May 08, 2009 this function was performed by Dr. Suad Arnautović. Until September 29, 2011 the function of the president was performed by Mrs. Irena Hadžiabdić. Mr. Branko Petrić was president of the BiH Central Election Commission in the period from September 9, 2011 to June 28, 2013. Mr. Stjepan Mikić was president of the BiH Central Election Commission in the period from June 28, 2013 to April 1, 2015.
Dr. Ahmet Šantić was the president of the BiH Central Election Commission from 31.03.2015 to 01.01.2017 wherafter Dr. Irena Hadžiabdić assumed office of the president of the BiH Central Election Commission, who performed this duty until September 31, 2018. Mr. Branko Petrić assumed the position of the president from October 1, 2018 to March 11 2020. As of March 16, 2020 the president of the BiH Central Election Commission is Mrs. Vanja Bjelica-Prutina.Dr. Suad Arnautović was the president of the BiH Central Election Commission from April 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. As of January 1, 2024 the president of the BiH Central Election Commission is dr. Irena Hadžiabdić.
Pursuant to Article 2.6 of the BiH Election Law, the President of the BiH Election Commission is appointed from amongst its members. Each member of the BiH Election Commission, a Croat, a Bosniak, a Serb and a representative of the Others, shall perform the duty of the president of the BiH Election Commission according to the rotation principle, once in seven (7) years for the period of twenty-one (21) months.
The BiH Election Commission changed its name to the BiH Central Election Commission in April of 2006.