Croatian presidential elections: Voting in 38 countries around the world

Voting to take place in 38 countries

ZAGREB, 13 December 2024 (Hina) – Croatian voters will be able to elect the President of Croatia not only in Croatia but also abroad, across 38 countries at 105 polling stations.

This marks a decrease compared to the 2019 elections, which had polling stations in 47 countries and a total of 124 locations.

The State Electoral Commission (DIP) has published the list of polling stations with their addresses on its website.

Outside Croatia, the highest number of polling stations will be in Bosnia and Herzegovina (42) and Germany (17), followed by Australia and the United States (four each), Serbia and Italy (three each), and Austria, Montenegro, Canada, Switzerland, and Hungary (two each).

Single polling stations will be opened in countries such as Slovenia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Kosovo, Turkey, and others.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Croatian voters are most numerous, two fewer polling stations will open compared to five years ago.

Most will be located in Mostar (20), followed by Vitez (eight), Livno and Orašje (four each), Sarajevo (three), Tuzla (two), and Banja Luka (one).

Since December 2019, the number of polling stations in Sarajevo and Banja Luka has halved, Vitez has two fewer, and Tuzla one fewer. Conversely, Orašje, which did not have polling stations in 2019, will now have four, and an additional polling station will open in Mostar.

In Germany, five fewer polling stations will operate compared to December 2019, when there were 17. Three polling stations will open in the general consulates in Munich and Stuttgart, two each in the consulates in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, and one each in the consulate in Hamburg and the Croatian embassy in Berlin.

Voters residing in Croatia who will be abroad on election day, 29 December, can vote there if they register in advance by 18 December.

Requests for prior registration can be submitted via the e-Birači service within the e-Građani system or through the competent administrative office of a county or the City of Zagreb using the published forms.

The administrative offices of counties and the City of Zagreb, which manage the electoral register, will publish their contact information and details of office hours on their websites.

How Are Polling Stations Determined?

Polling stations abroad, typically in the seats of diplomatic-consular missions (DKPs), are designated by the DIP in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, based on evaluations received regarding the feasibility of organising polling stations in specific locations.

“At a general level, when determining polling stations abroad, factors such as the security situation in the host country, the provision of minimum conditions for the appointment and operation of electoral committees, and the ability to ensure voting confidentiality are considered,” explains the DIP.

The DIP also notes that, based on information received since 2019, it has accepted proposals not to establish polling stations in Albania, Algeria, Brazil, Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Ukraine, or Afghanistan.

Due to time zone differences, the first polling stations for the Croatian presidential election will open in Australia, with the last opening in the United States, in Los Angeles.

The 8 presidential candidates are:

Miro Bulj
Tomislav Jonjić
Ivana Kekin
Branka Lozo
Zoran Milanović
Dragan Primorac
Marija Selak Raspudić
Niko Tokić Kartelo