MOGILEV, 26 January (BelTA) – Polling stations have opened in Belarus on the main voting day of the presidential election, BelTA has learned.
Polling stations across the country opened at 8:00. Voters will be given ballot papers upon presenting a passport (identification card) of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus. Voters may also provide one of the following documents to receive a ballot: military ID (for conscripts); service ID of an employee of a government agency (organization); driver's license, pension certificate, disability certificate (if it contains a photograph); student ID; certificate from the internal affairs agency confirming the identity of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus (in case of loss or theft of a passport, identification card).
According to Galina Kolentionova, Chairperson of Precinct Commission No.115 of Mogilev, all conditions for comfortable voting are in place at the polling station set up in Secondary School No.37. This precinct has over 2,000 voters, including 18 first-time voters.
“Three voting booths have been installed. There is a voting booth for visually impaired people. It provides a magnifying glass, a Braille overlay. For those who cannot come to the polling station on their own, home voting has been organized,” said Galina Kolentionova.
All members of the precinct commission have the necessary experience. “Everyone is in a good mood, we are looking forward to seeing our voters. If they have any questions, we are always ready to answer them,” Galina Kolentionova emphasized.
The chairperson of the precinct commission is confident that the main voting day will be a real feast for residents of their neighborhood. “In line with a good and long-standing tradition, people bring their families, children to polling stations. Older people are always dressed up, women have their hair done,” she said. “To create a good mood, we have organized a trade service, the school has prepared a concert and a no-lose lottery.”
Voters were very active during early voting. “On all days of early voting, residents of our neighborhood showed up in droves. Most of them were elderly people who had made up their mind about their choice long ago, and therefore did not wait for the main voting day. It is gratifying that our youth also demonstrates an active civic position - many took advantage of the early voting opportunity,” Galina Kolentionova remarked.