Expert: innovations in electoral legislation beneficial for both state and voters

The 2024 election campaign will be the largest in the history of independent Belarus. It has now entered its most active phase - Single Voting Day on February 25th - and within its framework, citizens will have to decide on the candidates who will represent their interests in the House of Representatives and local Councils of Deputies. Belarusians have something to compare with: over the years of independence, the country's electoral system has become more perfect. Associate Professor of the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus, Сandidate of Legal Sciences Anatoly Kurak, told what innovations Single Voting Day will be remembered for.

“For the first time, the entire deputy corps of the country will be elected on the same day - deputies of the House of Representatives (the lower house of Parliament), and deputies of local councils of all territorial levels. It should be noted that Single Voting Day, set for the last Sunday of February, will be preserved in the future. A peculiarity of the upcoming elections is that the term of office of the elected deputies has been increased from four to five years. These innovations should be considered positive for both the state and the citizens themselves. For the country, these innovations in the electoral legislation make it possible to save significant financial resources, which is very important in modern conditions. Innovations are also beneficial for the citizens themselves, since instead of two election campaigns, they will participate in only one and will not be distracted once again from their everyday affairs and concerns. It can also be considered positive that Single Voting Day takes place in winter, as during this period of the year, citizens are usually at their place of permanent residence, and not in the countryside or on vacation. In addition, in winter, a significantly smaller number of citizens are on vacation, and students are at their place of study. All this will contribute to an increase in voter turnout,” Anatoly Kurak stated.