MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) – A total of 4.44% of voters came to the polls on the first day of early voting, 13 February, ahead of the 18 February local elections in Belarus. BelTA learned from the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus.
3.4% of eligible voters took advantage of early voting in Brest Oblast, with 4.73% early votes cast in Vitebsk Oblast, 4.18% in Gomel Oblast, 3.86% in Grodno Oblast, 4.09% in Minsk Oblast and 4.68% in Mogilev Oblast. The turnout in Minsk reached 5.76%.
Polling stations will be opened from 10h00 to 19h00 with a lunch break between 14h00 and 16h00 through 17 February inclusively. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), everyone who is unable to come to the polls on 18 February will have an opportunity to cast their votes early in support of one of the candidates. For those who are going to be abroad on the voting day, 18 February, the CEC suggests voting early as no polling stations are set up outside the country for the local elections.
More than 18,000 deputies of local councils will be elected in Belarus on 18 February 2018. Over 22,200 candidates have been registered to run in the local elections.
