EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
– What is important for voters to know today? What should you pay attention to?
– The legislation regulates the procedure for recognizing the elections of the President, members of the Council of the Republic, and deputies of the House of Representatives as constitutional and legitimate. The procedure for forming the Central Election Commission has been changed. The threshold for the required minimum turnout for elections of deputies of the House of Representatives has been removed. A restriction has been established on the nomination as candidates for parliamentary deputies and for the presidency of citizens in respect of whom there are court convictions that have entered into legal force. The number of signatures required to nominate candidates for local councils has been changed. The status of observers has been clarified, and the terms of their accreditation have been changed, which will ensure the coordinated work of the commission on organizing and conducting elections.
The time for early voting has changed: from 12.00 to 19.00 without a break. Practice has shown that during previous election campaigns, the greatest activity was observed on weekdays during the lunch break and in the hours after working hours.
A number of innovations are aimed at ensuring electoral sovereignty. In 2024, voting stations will not be established abroad, which is due to the existing negative experience of previous election campaigns, including those related to the epidemiological situation. A ban has been introduced on the nomination as candidates of persons who have citizenship of a foreign state or a document granting rights to benefits and advantages in connection with political, religious views, or nationality.
There is another important nuance that is worth paying attention to. It is prohibited to take the issued ballot outside the voting premises. It is also prohibited to take photographs or videos of a completed ballot. Violation of this norm will result in legal liability.
These points regarding the procedure for organizing and conducting elections may be of interest to citizens.
But the main thing that everyone needs to remember is that the current election campaign is aimed, among other things, at consolidating society. That is, the task of the same political parties is not to pull the blanket on themselves, not to choose narrow goals and guidelines, but, on the contrary, to achieve a common result for the benefit of the whole society.
– Since we started talking about games, I can’t help but continue it. Now the balance of forces in the political arena of Belarus has changed. A minimum size threshold has been established for the registration of political parties, and as a result there are fewer of them. How do you evaluate this process?
– The number of registered political parties in the country has actually decreased to four. Today these are the Belarusian Party “White Rus'”, the Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice. It is important to realize: the path of party building is very long. In order for such a structure to begin to function effectively and receive the support of the electorate, a significant period of time is required.
But the purpose of political parties should remain unchanged: not to fight the state, not to interfere with it, but to compete with each other at the level of certain legislative initiatives. That is, the creative aspect should come first. This has been repeatedly emphasized by the leadership of our state. Another important point is ensuring electoral sovereignty, protecting the interests of one’s own people, the independence of one’s country.
– What do you think that young people should know and understand when going to the polls, especially those who will vote for the first time?
– Any young person who goes to vote needs to understand their responsibility for the general choice. After all, the vote of each voter ultimately affects the overall result, how the strategy for the further development of our state will be formed.
Young people must first of all realize: they are obliged to go to the polls and fulfill their civic duty. It is necessary to explain literally from childhood that budgetary allocations spent on elections are significant financial resources that must be used rationally. Voting is the duty of every citizen. And for whom to vote, everyone decides for themselves.