SARAJEVO, May 14 (FENA) – The introduction of new technologies into the electoral process will reduce the possibility of fraud and ensure that the will of voters is respected, it was emphasized at the opening of the conference “New Technologies and Electoral Integrity in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Role, Limitations and Responsibility,” held today in Sarajevo.

Chair of the Committee for the Fight against Corruption of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Branislav Borenović said that trust in elections must be restored to citizens, who are the most important part of the electoral process, as it has been further undermined in recent years.

“Electoral corruption opens the door to all other forms of corruption in the institutions of this country, and that is why it is important to cut corruption at the very beginning. I believe elections are the source of all corrupt behavior in the society we live in,” Borenović added.

The conference, which brought together members of the House Committee for the Fight against Corruption, international experts from Estonia, Albania and North Macedonia, as well as representatives of BiH institutions and civil society, will open a discussion on the role of new technologies in the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a special focus on their real scope, institutional capacities for their implementation, and implications for electoral integrity and public trust.

Chair of the Estonian National Electoral Committee Arne Koitmae stressed that Estonia has successfully used internet voting since 2005, but that regular system and technology updates are essential for proper functioning.

He noted that it is crucial to demonstrate to the public that new electoral technologies have a positive impact in order to build voter trust in them.

The conference will also present research findings on citizens’ perceptions of electoral integrity and the role of new technologies.