Bosnia elections, e-voting and digital democracy

I recently had the opportunity to take part in a discussion with Circle 99, the Association of Independent Intellectuals in Sarajevo, together with colleagues from the Nordic Civic Movement for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Nordic Civic Movement is a new organization that I co-created around two months ago. Its purpose is to bring together Bosnians living in the Nordic countries who have knowledge, experience and a desire to contribute to, help and improve Bosnia.

At the same time, the NGO is also open to individuals who are interested in Bosnia and would like to support its democratic and civic development.

For a long time, I have not been as engaged in Bosnia-related civic work as I perhaps could have been. There were several reasons for that, including my focus on other topics, projects and political processes. I did not always have enough time or space to contribute in a serious way. That is why I am now especially glad and positive about being able to return to these questions through a constructive platform.

In the discussion with Circle 99, I contributed with reflections on Estonia as an example of digital democracy. Estonia shows how a small post-socialist country can build functioning institutions, introduce electronic voting and use digitalization to make public life more efficient and accessible.

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is not about copying Estonia directly. It is about learning how digital tools can help citizens participate more easily, especially the Bosnian community as in Europe and North America. Easier registration, better communication with citizens abroad and, in the long term, a serious debate about electronic voting could strengthen democratic participation.

For me, this a good way to help and support a country that I once left because of political and social problems, which is an important and critical part of my life experience.