The election of the President of the Republic of Belarus is the main event of 2025, which will take place on January 26.
✔️ According to Article 64 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the right to elect the President belongs to citizens of Belarus who have reached the age of 18. At the same time, they must have an active electoral right, that is, not have restrictions provided for by law (for example, incapacity).
✔️ Voting takes place at polling stations, which are usually held in educational institutions, schools, cultural centers and other public places. You can find the nearest polling station on the website of the Central Election Commission (CEC), as well as on the website of the district (city) executive committee or local administration.
✔️ If you came to the polling station and found that your data is not on the voter lists, you have the right to contact the chairman of the electoral commission of the electoral district and include you in the additional list. This request will be granted if you have not previously voted at another polling station.
To avoid such situations, it is recommended to contact the relevant polling station election commission in advance, approximately 16 days before the election date, and make sure that your entries are on the voter list, as well as the accuracy of the information entered.
✔️ The law provides the opportunity for early voting for those who, for important reasons, are unable to participate in their polling station on the main voting day. Such voting begins five days before the main elections. The working hours of polling stations during the early voting period are from January 21 to 25 - from 12:00 to 19:00 without a break. On election day, you can vote from 8:00 to 20:00.
✔️ To participate in the elections, you must check the passport of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus. In the case of temporary residence not for a moment, permanent registration may include temporary registration.
✔️ Each polling station has observers from various political parties and public organizations, as well as representatives of representative bodies. This ensures compliance with the law and transparency of voting procedures.
✔️ If you make a mistake when filling out a ballot, you can contact a representative of the precinct commission and accidentally give you a new ballot instead of the spoiled one. However, it should be remembered that a replacement is only possible once, so be careful when filling it out.
✔️ Each voter must strictly follow the election legislation and comply with the established rules. In particular, it is prohibited to:
o Take ballots issued for voting outside the polling station;
o Take photos and videos of the completed ballot. These restrictions are aimed at ensuring the secrecy of the vote.
Administrative liability for any possible violations of election legislation (including photo and video filming of filling out a ballot paper) is provided for in Article 10.9 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on the Regulation of Offenses (CAO), which entails the imposition of fines in standard amounts up to fifteenth base value.
Administrative liability for actions and for violating the procedure for holding mass events (a fine of 100 base units, community service, administrative arrest - Part 1 of Article 24.23 of the CAO), as well as for organizing unauthorized mass events (a fine of 25 to 150 base units, community service, administrative arrest - Part 2 of Article 24.23 of the CAO).
Article 10.21 of this Code provides for administrative investigations for the honest conduct of public opinion polls.
Article 191 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus establishes criminal liability for obstructing the electoral rights of citizens or the central work of the election commission, election commissions. To improve such actions, various measures are provided for, aimed at deprivation of liberty for up to 3 years. Article 192 of the Criminal Code provides for criminal liability for violating the election legislation. Penalties for such a violation are also very serious.
Training or preparation for conducting mass investigations, gross violations of public order threaten arrest, imprisonment for up to 3 years (Part 3 of Article 293, Part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code). Arrest, restriction of liberty for up to 5 years, imprisonment for up to 5 years are provided for in Article 369 of the Criminal Code for public calls for organizing unauthorized mass events and involving third parties in them. You can be deprived of your liberty for a term of 5 to 15 years for organizing mass investigations (Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code), and from 3 to 8 years for participating in mass investigations (Part 2 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code).
According to Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code, restrictions on liberty for a term of up to 5 years, imprisonment for a term of up to 4 years for organizing actions, and gross violation of public order are provided.
✔️ The presidential election is considered valid if more than half of the citizens of the Republic of Belarus included in the voter list took part in the voting. The President is considered elected if more than half of the citizens who participated in the voting voted for him.
✔️ After the polling stations close, the vote counting begins. The voting results are announced by members of the precinct commissions and then sent to higher authorities. The final election results are published on the CEC website, as well as in the media.
Your vote is your contribution to the future of the country. Participation in the elections allows you to express your opinion and influence the course of events. Don't miss the chance to show your civic position!
