In Belarus, early voting in elections to local councils of deputies started on February 12. Belsat.eu traveled around the polling stations of Minsk to see how the early voting is conducted.
10:15 The MAZ houses polling stations No. 46 and No. 47.
The polls have been open for only 15 minutes, but the box already has a lot of bulletins. And that’s why:
At this time, there is a concert of local amateur performance. There are 600 people in the hall, there are no empty seats.
11:10. The polling station No. 28 is located in the recreation center of the Minsk Tractor Plant.
A place for observers is in the corner on the bench.
But look at how the corner is decorated.
Everything is done in traditional colors. For the time of our correspondent’s visit, no one came to the station.
This is how the stand are at the administration of the Frunzenski district. There is no empty space.
12:40. The polling station No. 39 is located in one of the buildings of BNTU.
The chairman of the commission greeted us with affability.
13:30. The polling station 37, building 11 of the BNTU. Entertaining music is on.
Ten people came over five minutes. The chairman explained this: “Students want to go to Silichy on Sunday, so they vote early.”
A fifth-year student told us, on condition of anonymity, that this happens every election. He did not want to participate in the early voting at first, but today the administration visited their group:
“They have the lists, you understand … and I live in the dorm.”
16:00. Site number 36 is in the BNTU dorm. The studies are over, so there are many people here. In 15 minutes, the station was already visited by 20 people. The observers is mostly looking at his phone.
The girls approach the candidate’s stand: “This is a nonpartisan woman, I will vote for her.”
A student of the military department told our correspondent that they were promised a day off on Friday:
“Many people were offered a holiday on Friday, but our group refused. And I came to vote, because I will not be in the city on Sunday.”
Another young man confirmed that there would be a day off on Friday.
Iryna Arakhouskaya, belsat.eu
