Election 2025: it is important to know

The Presidential election in the Republic of Belarus is scheduled for January 26th, 2025 — this decision was made on October 23rd at a meeting of the House of Representatives. In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and the Electoral Code, the Central Election Commission (CEC) approved on the next day a calendar plan of organisational events for the preparation and holding of the election of Belarus’ President on January 26th, 2025. Let us briefly recall its main points.

On the eve of election day, the Information Centre of the Central Election Commission will traditionally start working in order to promptly inform voters and observers about the voting process.

 Presidential candidates are nominated by citizens of the Republic of Belarus with at least 100,000 signatures of voters. The nomination of a potential candidate for President of the Republic of Belarus by citizens is carried out by an initiative group of voters in the number of at least 100 people. 

RIGHTS OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

• equal right to speak at pre-election and other meetings, in print media, on radio and on television
• government agencies, public associations, heads of organisations, bodies of territorial public self-government are obliged to facilitate the organisation of potential presidential candidates’ meetings with voters 
• right to present a programme of their future activities, the text of which is determined by the candidate
• have up to 30 trusted representatives

Election funds of persons nominated as presidential candidates, and presidential candidates may be formed at the expense of:

1) personal monetary funds of the person nominated as a potential presidential candidate, and a potential candidate, the amount of which cannot exceed the maximum amount of all expenses from the election fund indicated below
2) voluntary donations from citizens of the Republic of Belarus — no more than 30 basic amounts
3) voluntary donations from legal entities — no more than 60 basic amounts
The maximum amount of all expenses from the election fund of a potential presidential candidate may not exceed 10,000 basic amounts.

It is prohibited for the following to make donations to election funds:

• foreign states and organisations
• foreign citizens and stateless persons
• international organisations
• organisations whose founders (participants, owners of property) are foreign states, foreign organisations, international organisations, foreign citizens and stateless persons
• organisations that received — during the year preceding the day of donation — foreign gratuitous aid from foreign states in the person of their state bodies or diplomatic missions, interstate entities, foreign and international legal entities (organisations that are not legal entities), citizens of the Republic of Belarus permanently residing outside the Republic of Belarus or located outside the Republic of Belarus for more than 183 days during the 12 months preceding the month of provision of foreign gratuitous aid, foreign citizens and stateless persons who do not have a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Belarus, as well as from foreign anonymous donors, if the foreign gratuitous aid received by these organisations was not returned by them or, in case of impossibility of return, was not transferred to the state income before the day of donation to election funds
• citizens of the Republic of Belarus under the age of 18
• state and local government bodies
• organisations that are fully or partially funded from the budget
• organisations registered in accordance with the established procedure less than one year before the date of donation
• charitable and religious organisations
• anonymous donors
The Central Election Commission will organise employees on duty according to the working hours of territorial commissions, including on Saturdays, with the call centre set to start working on November 1st.

Personal protection

The CEC Chairman has explained why the personal data of election commission members will not be published.
Speaking about the safety of the campaign participants, Igor Karpenko noted, “We will not publish personal data of commission members. This does not mean that these people will be nameless. They will work at polling stations and will have badges. It will be possible to contact commission members in case of any questions. However, we will not print general lists.”
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Aleksandr Lukashenko on whether he will run for President in 2025 

In an interview with VGTRK (All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company) journalist Olga Skabeyeva, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko answered the question whether he would take part in the Presidential election, the date of which has already been announced. 
“Lukashenko has decided to run for a new term,” the journalist posted on her Telegram channel, accompanying her message with the dialogue that took place during the interview. 
Skabeyeva: Aleksandr Grigorievich, are you running for President? The date [January 26th, 2025] has been announced today. 
Lukashenko: The date is good. 
Skabeyeva: Well, I am not talking about the date. 
Lukashenko: Do you want me to announce this in your programme [60 Minutes]? 
Skabeyeva: Is it possible? 
Lukashenko: Well, Olya. Yes, I will run for President. 
Skabeyeva: We will support you then. 
Lukashenko: I will definitely go in this case!

Belarus’ Central Election Commission has registered initiative groups to collect voter signatures in support of the nomination of Aleksandr Lukashenko, Oleg Gaidukevich, Aleksandr Khizhnyak, Olga Chemodanova, Anna Kanopatskaya, Sergei Bobrikov, Sergei Syrankov as presidential candidates.
To hold the Presidential election in the Republic of Belarus, a total of 153 territorial commissions are to be formed in the country, including 6 regional and Minsk city election commissions, 118 district, 4 city — in cities of regional subordination, 24 city — in cities of regional subordination.
All in all, 1,725 representatives have been nominated to the commissions. Political parties and other public associations have nominated the biggest number of their representatives — 1,179 people. From citizens, 443 representatives have been nominated through submitting applications, while from labour collectives — 103.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Belarus has published the schedule for the 2025 Presidential election 

Initiative groups of potential candidates are to be registered by the CEC before November 1st.
The collection of signatures in support of potential candidates will last from November 7th to December 6th.
Documents required for registration can be submitted by potential candidates to the CEC on December 7th-21st.
On December 22nd-31st, the CEC will perform candidate registration. Potential candidates for the office of the President will receive their registration certificates no later than two days after a successful registration.
Pre-election campaigning and propaganda in support of potential candidates start on January 1st and end on January 25th, 2025.
Early voting will take place on January 21st-25th, with January 26th being the main voting day.
The CEC is to announce the election results no later than February 5th. The second tour will take place, if necessary, no later than February 9th. 

Natalya Kochanova on the announcement of the Presidential election date and the civic duty of every Belarusian  

Commenting on the announcement of the Presidential election date in Belarus, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of Belarus’ National Assembly Natalya Kochanova described the date as the most optimal and convenient, “An election, especially a Presidential election, is always an important event in the life of any country,” pointed out the Speaker of the Council of the Republic. “We understand it perfectly well that during the election, we determine the future of our country and our people, which is why conducting such significant political campaigns is always exciting. Today [October 23rd, 2024], the House of Representatives has decided during its session to hold the Presidential election in the Republic of Belarus on January 26th, 2025. All legislative norms and rules have been adhered to in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Code.” 
As Natalya Kochanova underscored, it is also important that the Presidential election rounds out the cycle of electoral campaigns, setting the stage for the next five-year period, “At the beginning of 2025, we are going to determine the fate of our country for the next five years. Objectives and forecast indicators will be set for the upcoming five-year plan. Therefore, this political campaign completes the cycle of the formation of state bodies. This year, we held the Single Voting Day, when we elected deputies at all levels and formed the Belarusian People’s Congress, which has a constitutional status. Thus, the parliamentarians were absolutely right when they proposed and supported this date for the election.  

In these trying times, when we see the warmongering hysteria escalating at our borders, with fences being built, and endless NATO exercises taking place, as new hotspots emerge around the globe time and again, it is our duty to preserve peace and calm in our country.”

According to Natalya Kochanova, members of the Council of the Republic will do everything possible to ensure that the Presidential electoral campaign proceeds smoothly and actively from the citizens’ side. Belarusians have always actively participated in elections because they understand the significance of this event, “Participation in elections is the civic responsibility of every individual, their civic duty. Our people are quite active because they understand what is at stake. At stake is the future of the country and the people. We recognise the crucial role of the first person of the state, the leader, the president — especially in these trying times, when we see the warmongering hysteria escalating at our borders, with fences being built, and endless NATO exercises taking place, as new hotspots emerge around the globe time and again, it is our duty to preserve peace and calm in our country. I am confident that every citizen of Belarus who takes their country’s future seriously will fulfil their civic duty.” 

Igor Sergeyenko on the Presidential election in the Republic of Belarus  

The Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus’ National Assembly, Igor Sergeyenko, has noted that next year will mark an exceptionally important and significant socio-political event in Belarus — the Presidential election in the Republic of Belarus, “The Presidential election will complete the cycle of electoral campaigns under the updated Constitution. The results of the upcoming Presidential election campaign are of paramount importance for every citizen, society, and the state as a whole. It is a landmark milestone in the development of any country, a resilience test for the political system of the state. It is the Presidential election that will determine the future of Belarus and the directions of its further development for the coming years.”    
The Speaker of the House of Representatives has reminded that — in accordance with Article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus — it is the House of Representatives that calls the Presidential election. The proposal on the date for the Presidential election was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Based on materials of Belarus’ Central Election Commission, sb.by and belta.by