English

Over 17,000 nomination groups for local elections apply for registration, official says

As many as 16,060 applications for the registration of nomination groups have been filed with election commissions for the forthcoming local elections, Mikalay Lazavik, secretary of the central election commission, told BelaPAN.

Voters in 18,816 electoral districts are to elect 1,328 local soviets between March 18 and March 23.

As always, the largest number of applications per electoral district, 3.9, were filed by potential candidates for seats in the Minsk City Soviet, Mr. Lazavik said, adding that 224 applications had been filed in the 57 electoral districts for the Minsk City Soviet elections.

As many as 485 applications were filed in the 355 electoral districts for elections for regional soviets; and 522 applications were submitted in the 368 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of cities of regional subordination, Mr. Lazavik said. The ratio of applications per electoral district was thus 1.4 in both cases, he said.

According to Mr. Lazavik, the ratio was less than one for elections for all other soviets. In particular, 3,022 applications were submitted in the 3,913 electoral districts for elections for district soviets; 191 applications were submitted in the 248 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of cities of district subordination; 151 applications were submitted in the 273 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of urban villages; and 11,465 applications were submitted in the 13,602 electoral districts for elections for village soviets, Mr. Lazavik said.

Citizens without party affiliation and members of political parties accounted for 15,757 and 303 of the applications, respectively, he said.

The nomination of potential candidates in the local elections began on January 12 and applications for the registration of their nomination groups were accepted until the evening of January 16.

The deadline for nominating candidates is February 10 and applications for registration as candidates will be considered between February 11 and February 20.

Candidates may be nominated by parties and “worker collectives” and through the collection of ballot access signatures from voters.

Nomination groups formed to collect ballot access signatures should consist of three to 10 people and should apply to election commissions for registration no later than January 16.

Nomination groups are required to gather at least 150 signatures to secure ballot access for a candidate for the regional soviets and the Minsk City Soviet, at least 75 signatures for a candidate for district and city soviets and at least 20 signatures for a candidate for village soviets.