Belarus’ district election commissions have registered 446 initiative groups to collect signatures. There are 6,018 polling stations, with 47 operating abroad. Belarusians will be able to cast their vote at 5,971 ballot stations, with 259 operating from health resorts, health and recreation centres, hospitals and other healthcare institutions. Another 21 polling stations have been formed at military units.
Collection of signatures on capital’s streets
The head of the CIS election observation mission, Sergei Lebedev, has praised all organisation so far, noting that it is ‘running in strict compliance with national legislation’ and is proceeding ‘calmly’.
Street lobbying is being deployed by initiative groups, with 57 applicants registered in the Gomel Region, 17 being members of political parties and 40 without party affiliation.
No collection of signatures is being observed on Mogilev streets. The head of one of the initiative groups, Alexander Lazarev, says, “There are 35 people in our group and our candidate is without party affiliation. As far as I know, this is true of more than 72 percent of the candidates in Mogilev. We aren’t lobbying on the street as we believe that this isn’t the most effective method. Those signing must live in our district while many pedestrians are from further afield.”
Mr. Lazarev notes that representatives of his initiative group are visiting households door to door.
By Stanislav Galkovsky
