Republic

MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Early voting at the presidential election in Belarus will start on 14 December, BelTA learnt from the Central Election Commission (CEC). Over 6,000 polling stations will be open in Belarus and outside the country. They will stay open from 10h00 to 19h00 with a break from 14h00 to 16h00. Everyone who is unable to come to the polls on 19 December will have an opportunity to cast their votes in support of one of ten candidates on one of these days from 14 December to 18 December. In order to receive a ballot paper a voter should present a passport or other identification papers such as military service record card, a certificate of employment, a pension certificate or a student identity card (if there is a photo in it), a certificate from the interior bodies (for the citizens who have lost their passports). Those who are not on the list for some reason will be added to it upon the presentation of the documents of identification or the document confirming permanent or temporary residence in the voting precinct area. Early voting outside polling stations is now allowed. Early voting is not allowed at the polling stations in sanatoriums, holiday houses, hospitals and other medical establishments, either. Home voting is possible on the election day, 19 December. According to the CEC, voters fill in the ballot paper themselves. If they are unable to do it due to poor health, they can entrust it to another person except for members of the election commissions, presidential candidates, their proxies, observers and mass media representatives. The country has undertaken additional measures to secure transparency and openness of the early voting this year. Thus, on the first day of the early voting ballot boxes will be checked and sealed by the chairman of the commission in the presence of at least two third of the commission. On every day of the early voting at 14h00 and at 19h00 the chairman of the commission and his deputy will seal up the ballot box with paper and put a signature on it. Ballot boxes are to be unsealed before the start of the voting at 10h00 and 16h00. The unsealing process can be overseen by observers and mass media representatives. The polling stations will provide daily tabulation of the number of ballots received by the commission, used and spoiled as well as the amount of citizens who receive ballot papers. Early voting will last till 19h00 on 18 December. The election of the President of Belarus will take place on 19 December.

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