The Central Election Commission (KQZ) has announced that it received an official clarification regarding the errors identified on some ballots during the local elections held on 9 November 2025 in South Mitrovica and Gjakova.
According to the announcement, after receiving photographs showing the error, the company responsible for printing the ballots conducted a full investigation of the production and data preparation process.
The KQZ stated:
“The investigation revealed that the problem occurred only on one of the four print heads, which prints the polling station number, while the monitoring system only checks the serial number (QR code), so the error was not detected during printing.”
The company, CETIS, emphasized that it takes full responsibility for this technical error, noting that the ballots include multiple security features that make them impossible to counterfeit or copy.
CETIS expressed deep regret for the incident and confirmed that it remains fully available to assist the KQZ in the investigation and verification of ballots to clarify the circumstances of the case.
Analysis:
While the company claims a “technical error,” the incident raises concerns about election oversight and the effectiveness of monitoring systems. Citizens in Mitrovica and Gjakova have voiced doubts about ballot integrity, especially given the tense political climate. KQZ’s reliance on printer systems that overlook errors in polling station numbers highlights the need for more stringent safeguards to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
