Voter dies after casting ballot in Croatian presidential elections 

(Photo credit: HINA/ Damir SENČAR/Pool)

ZAGREB/RIJEKA, 12 January 2025 (Hina) – In Croatia, over 6,500 polling stations opened at 7 a.m. on Sunday for the second round of voting, where voters will decide whether to grant a new mandate to the incumbent president, Zoran Milanović or to Dragan Primorac.

Out of 3,496,283 registered voters in the Republic of Croatia, 460,890 (or 13.80%) had cast their votes by 11:30 a.m. By comparison, two weeks ago, on 29 December, 459,502 voters (or 14%) had voted by the same time.

Death at polling station in Rijeka

An elderly man passed away on Sunday at a polling station in Rijeka during the second round of the presidential election, the State Election Commission (DIP) confirmed on Sunday.

The polling station was temporarily closed following the incident.

The man died shortly after casting his vote, according to Slaven Hojski, a member and spokesperson of the DIP. He clarified that the incident occurred at the polling station in the Hrvatski Dom Sveti Kuzam.

The polling station was briefly closed while authorities carried out necessary procedures, including the removal of the deceased’s body. Voting will resume once these procedures are completed.

The DIP has expressed gratitude to voters at the affected polling station in Rijeka for their patience, assuring them that all those wishing to vote will have the opportunity to do so today.

Voters present at the polling station by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their votes, regardless of how long the process takes, the DIP announced.

Observers of Croatian elections cannot recall a similar incident where a voter has died at a polling station.

“We have slightly more new voters who have recently come of age and those who were actively registered in the first round, which accounts for the marginally higher number of voters compared to the first round,” explained Josip Salapić, Deputy Chair of the DIP, in an interview with Croatian Radio.