Belarus parliament elections

VITEBSK, 6 July (BelTA) - Territorial election commissions will assume some of the functions of the Central Election Commission during the parliamentary elections, Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik told media in Vitebsk on 6 July, BelTA has learned.

Nikolai Lozovik underlined that in any election campaign the regional level plays a very important role. “We did not have territorial commissions before. We had precinct commissions that worked with voters and district commissions that worked directly with the candidates. The Central Election Commission supervised the process in general. But this regional link has also been involved because finances are distributed at this level. The compliance with the electoral legislation is also supervised at this level. The regional authorities are put in charge of some issues to ensure the operation of the commissions and activities of the candidates to Parliament,” Nikolai Lozovik noted. Therefore, when amending the electoral legislation in December 2013, a decision was adopted to form the Minsk city territorial election commission and regional territorial election commissions, who will assume some of the functions of the Central Election Commission and part of the functions of the district election commissions.

“Territorial election commissions deal with financial issues of the electoral process, supervise the compliance with the electoral legislation, and review complaints. These election commissions will play a role of the CEC as the main flow of letters, complaints, appeals will be considered by the territorial election commissions. If someone intends to take their complaints further, the next stop is a district court, Nikolai Lozovik said.

When asked about the appeals and complaints to the election commissions, Nikolai Lozovik noted that there will always be complaints. “But there is one thing: 70% of these complaints are not related to elections. They are about housing, social, and legal issues. Many ask to clarify electoral laws. No complaint or letter is left without attention. If a complaint or an appeal is not related to elections, we send them directly to a government body in question,” Nikolai Lozovik said.

Vitebsk hosted a training seminar for chairpersons and members of the territorial and district election commissions. Nikolai Lozovik drew the attention of colleagues to innovations and special aspects of the election campaign, distributed the manuals and practical guides.

Fourteen district election commissions and one territorial election commission were set up in Vitebsk Oblast. They are composed of 195 people - representatives of public associations, political parties, labor collectives and citizens.

Elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus are scheduled for 11 September.