MINSK, 18 February (BelTA) – The voter turnout during the elections to the municipal councils of deputies in Belarus totaled 45.57% as of 12:00, BelTA learned from Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina.
As many as 39.08% of the voters in Brest Oblast have cast their votes. Vitebsk Oblast reported 49.81%, Gomel Oblast — 50.41%, Grodno Oblast — 44.86%, Minsk Oblast — 45.38%, Mogilev Oblast — 48.59%, and the city of Minsk — 42.21%.
Lidia Yermoshina went on saying that according to the election commissions, over 35,000 domestic observers are now monitoring the elections. The Central Election Commission receives complaints from them but not all the complaints are justified. “Some of them are far-fetched. In essence, observers assume the right to give orders to the election commission and voters,” noted the head of the election organization agency. For instance, a complaint has been filed about the presence of volunteers at a polling station. “The Central Election Commission has allowed volunteers to help people with disabilities cast their votes. But it turns out that some observers nominated by the opposition don't like it,” stated the CEC head. Lidia Yermoshina also wondered why some observers complain about the presence of police officers and police helpers, who keep the law and order at their polling stations. The number of justified complaints is very insignificant.
Elections to municipal councils of deputies are in progress in Belarus today. All the 5,870 polling stations are operating in a routine manner. They will stay open till 20:00. Over 22,000 people stand as candidates, vying for slightly more than 18,000 seats in the local councils of deputies.