2016 Parliamentary Campaign: elections to the House of Representatives are underway in Belarus and in the polling stations set up abroad

11 September, Sunday, is Election Day of the 2016 parliamentary campaign in Belarus. Polling stations in Belarus and diplomatic missions in 36 countries are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 484 candidates are running for seats in Belarus’ parliament. The competition at this year’s parliamentary elections is much higher than during the previous campaign. Four people run for a MP seat on average, with figures higher in the Belarusian capital Minsk. In 2012, 293 candidates ran for 110 seats in the lower house.

Over 32,000 national and more than 800 international observers have been accredited to monitor the parliamentary elections 2016. A total of 333 observers represent the CIS, 341 – OSCE/ODIHR, 39 – OSCE PA, 19 - PACE, and 9 - SCO. Observing the elections are also 65 diplomats, three representatives of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), 15 experts from foreign election commissions. The CEC also accredited one independent international observer.