# Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEC BiH; Bosnian: Centralna izborna komisija Bosne i Hercegovine - CIK BiH, Croatian: Središnje izborno povjerenstvo - SIP BiH, Serbian: Централнa изборнa комисијa Боснe и Херцеговинe - ЦИК БиХ / Centralna izborna komisija Bosne i Hercegovine - CIK BiH) is the administrative body responsible for regulating and supervising the election process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The CEC also oversees the work of local and regional election commissions, which regulate the electoral process in lower administrative units.

## History
### Establishment

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 a session of the House of Representatives held on 21 August 2001, and at a session of the House of Peoples held on 23 August 2001. The Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina was thus established.
On 16 November 2001, the High Representative appointed members of the 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 Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international members of the Election Commission.
The following persons were appointed as members of the Election Commission: Branko Petrić, representative of the Serbs, Lidija Korać, representative of the Croats people, Hilmo Pašić, representative of the Bosniaks, Vehid Šehić, representative of the Others and Robert S. Beecroft, Gerhard Enver Schrönbergs and Ambassador Victor Tkachenko, representatives of the International community.

### First and second sessions

The constitutional first session of the Election Commission was held on 20 November 2001, and thus the Provisional Election Commission officially ceased to exist. A decision on establishing the Secretariat of the Election Commission was passed at the same session. The Secretariat conducts professional and administrative-technical duties for the Election Commission, the Complaints and Appeals Council and the Appellative Council.
At the second session of the Election Commission held on 27 November 2001, Lidija Korać was elected its first president. The Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted its Rules of Procedure at the same session.

### Rotation procedure

At 46th session of the Election Commission held on 27 February 2003, a rotation procedure on the office of president of this institution was made. Hilmo Pašić was elected second president and Vehid Šehić was elected third president. Since 1 January 2024, Irena Hadžiabdić has served as president of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pursuant to Article 2.6 of the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President of the Central Election Commission is appointed from amongst its members. Each member of the Central Election Commission, a Croat, a Bosniak, a Serb and a representative of the Others, shall perform the duty of the president of the Central Election Commission according to the rotation principle, once in seven (7) years for the period of twenty-one (21) months.
The Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina changed its name to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 2006.

## Members

The current members of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina are:
* Irena Hadžiabdić, president
* Vlado Rogić, member
* Ahmet Šantić, member
* Jovan Kalaba, member
* Vanja Bjelica-Prutina, member
* Željko Bakalar, member
* Suad Arnautović, member

## List of presidents

At the 46th session of the Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held on 27 February 2003, the rotation procedure on the office of president of this institution was made.
| Name | Mandate |
| Lidija Korać | 27 November 2001 – 27 February 2003 |
| Hilmo Pašić | 27 February 2003 – 20 May 2004 |
| Vehid Šehić | 20 May 2004 – 18 August 2005 |
| Branko Petrić | 18 August 2005 – 16 November 2006 |
| Stjepan Mikić | 16 November 2006 – 15 February 2008 |
| Suad Arnautović | 15 February 2008 – 8 May 2009 |
| Irena Hadžiabdić | 8 May 2009 – 29 September 2011 |
| Branko Petrić | 29 September 2011 – 26 June 2013 |
| Stjepan Mikić | 26 June 2013 – 31 March 2015 |
| Ahmet Šantić | 31 March 2015 – 1 January 2017 |
| Irena Hadžiabdić | 1 January 2017 – 31 September 2018 |
| Branko Petrić | 1 October 2018 – 11 May 2020 |
| Vanja Bjelica-Prutina | 16 May 2020 – 31 June 2020 |
| Željko Bakalar | 1 July 2020 – 29 March 2022 |
| Suad Arnautović | 30 March 2022 – 31 December 2024 |
| Irena Hadžiabdić | 1 January 2024 – Incumbent |