2024 election campaign to be largest in history of independent Belarus
February 25th will be Single Voting Day, when Belarusians will elect representatives who will speak on their behalf in the House of Representatives and local councils of deputies. Parties, public organisations, labour collectives and citizens are nominating their candidate until January 15th, and pickets are organised in city streets to collect signatures. Let look at the innovations of the upcoming election campaign.
An active phase of nominating candidates for deputies is in full swing now, and the subjects entitled to nominate include parties and their organisational structures, as well as labour teams that hold congresses, meetings and conferences. Initiative groups are also engaged into the collection of signatures.
The methods of nominating candidates may vary during electoral campaigns, and a candidate who has registered an initiative group has the right to use any of them. As noted by Yelena Baldovskaya, the secretary of Belarus’ Central Election Commission, political parties can now enjoy all the rights provided for by law during elections, so many of their representatives choose the opportunity to communicate directly with people, collect signatures, set up pickets, and so on. The parties also sent their representatives to the territorial district election commissions, and precinct commissions will be formed by the end of January; representatives of the parties will become part of them. The overall level of activity of political associations can be assessed after the completion of the nomination process.
Single Voting Day is really an innovation for Belarus, but an ordinary voter will unlikely to notice any significant differences. According to Ms. Baldovskaya, a larger number of ballots at rural polling stations will probably become the major peculiar feature. In fact, these will be traditional elections of the deputy corps with the help of an optimised electoral system: the time of voters and participating organisations is saved. It is worth noting that the Electoral Code has been amended, and the Central Election Commission has received some additional powers – being able now to more actively interact with the electorate, explaining (including to young people and students) the basics of constitutional and electoral law: what elections are as a process, why they are held in the country, and so on.
It is very important that every citizen realises their importance in this process and takes an active stance with regard to the state’s future. During the current election campaign, the Central Election Commission members are actively engaged in the educational process – offering lectures and excursions. Actually, the Central Election Commission has become even more open for public. As for the procedural innovations, they primarily concern their organisers rather than voters. All conditions will be created at the polling stations so that everything is simple, accessible and convenient for people.
After the end of the active phase of nominating candidates and submitting the relevant documents, the Central Election Commission will study them and make further decisions on the registration of candidates. After that, the campaign will begin, and – as noted by CEC Chairman Igor Karpenko – the candidates are expected to be active during this stage. Their activity may be slightly lower in rural areas, where deputies to village councils will be elected. Apparently, competition there will also be lower, but this cannot be said about the importance of local deputies. Actually, people most often raise issues that should be resolved at the local level: the condition of roads, housing repairs, landscaping, and so on. Therefore, the activity of voters is very important, because a lot – in particular, where the state funds will be allocated as a priority to solve certain pressing problems that concern Belarusians – depends on who will be elected as a deputy, especially to local councils. As for the deputies of the Parliament, there will probably be a traditionally higher competition, Mr. Karpenko believes.
The new convocation will have to work in the context of global foreign policy challenges, and this is a good reason that fuels public interest in the current election campaign. Belarusians have something to compare with, so they have a special attitude towards candidates for the post of people's deputies. People in Belarus treat the election process responsibly, having the same attitude towards those who will continue the creative course of the country's development. accordingly, a serious competition among future candidates is likely.
Registration of initiative groups to collect signatures of voters has ended, and – as informed by the Central Election Commission – a total of 164 groups have been registered in support of the nomination of candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives and over 11,221 for deputies of local councils. The election commissions countrywide have already received documents on the nomination of 366 candidates for deputies of local councils. The process of accreditation of national observers at territorial and district election commissions is underway: the list already includes 3,348 names. The CEC has also sent invitations to the CIS central election commissions: international observers will be present at the upcoming elections in Belarus.
Vladimir Karanik, the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, commented on the issue, “Everyone has the right to vote, and everyone decides for themselves – whether to go to the polls or not. However, it is important to use this right, since – as I have repeatedly said – the future of any country should be chosen in voting booths, not in squares. After all, no country where the future was formed in streets has become happier and more dynamically developing. This is especially important now, after the amendments and additions to the Constitution were adopted: many significant points have been outlined. New opportunities have been created for young people to build a political career. If some of them see themselves in the future as politicians working in public administration bodies, legislative and executive authorities (namely, in organising the process of governing the state or individual territories), then our task is to create a system that will contribute to the formation of these politicians, assisting them in acquiring the necessary competencies and experience.”
