In comparison with the parliamentary elections of 2008, the number of polling stations has fallen (from 6,525). Demographic factors have played their role, while the administrative-territorial system has been improved (with some units enlarged), leading to a change in boundaries; polling stations covering small areas have been attached to larger ones.
The largest numbers of polling stations are in the Gomel and Minsk regions: 1,098 and 1,083 respectively. The smallest number (724) is in the Grodno Region, explains the Central Election Commission Secretary, Nikolai Lozovik. In Minsk, 714 stations are to be operational.
Abroad, 44 polling stations are being created across 30 countries, with the greatest number in Russia and Poland: four in each. Germany is to have three while Latvia, the United States and Turkey are to have two each, allowing registered Belarusians to vote from abroad — whether on a trip for pleasure or business, or living on the territory of a foreign state during election time.
Mr. Lozovik notes that the Central Election Commission welcomes the initiative of authorities in the Vitebsk Region, which is equipping all polling stations with transparent ballot boxes. An electronic voting system may soon come to Belarus.
“Reasonable progressive trends will be adopted regarding electronic voting and control of the voting process, but this should be done gradually, weighing desire against cost,” emphasises Mr. Lozovik.
