Public Election Observation Center to open in Belarus on 21 January

Representatives of the country’s largest public associations and political parties will join forces to monitor the voting process. The Public Election Observation Center will start working on the first day of early voting. It will accumulate information submitted by observers regarding the voting process and possible emergency situations.

Public associations and political parties have already nominated about 30,000 people to work as observers. They were accredited to monitor the election at almost all polling stations in every region of Belarus. By the way, the accreditation process for domestic observers will proceed until 20 January.

“The center makes sure that each polling station will have a domestic observer. Domestic observers have undergone the necessary training and clearly understand their duties and responsibilities. Domestic observers were educated about the legal aspects of the work of election commissions, the voting process and observation. Observers will send regular updates to the center about the course of the voting, possible issues. This way the center will get objective information about the work of polling stations, which will eliminate the possibility of data distortion,” the press service of the Federation of Trade Unions said.

In turn, the center will promptly inform the media and the public about everything that happens at polling stations.

On the first day of early voting the center will launch a hotline for voters. Anyone will be able to call and ask a question about the progress of the election campaign, the voting procedure, or to report a controversial situation at a polling station, and put forward suggestions. The hotline number is +375 (17) 371-07-76. It will be available from 12:00 to 19:00 during the early voting period (Tuesday - Saturday), and from 8:00 to 20:00 on the main voting day (Sunday). Each request will be thoroughly dealt with.