Elections of Members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

A session of the Council of the Republic

The Council of the Republic is a chamber of territorial representation and is elected for a four-year term.

Eight members of the Council of the Republic representing every region and the city of Minsk are elected by secret ballot at sessions of members of city and regional councils of deputies. Eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Timing of the elections to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

Elections to the Council of the Republic are called by the President of the Republic of Belarus no later than three months before the single voting day and are held, as a rule, in one day no later than 40 days after the single voting day.

Requirements for Candidates for Members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

A member of the Council of the Republic must be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, at least 30 years old, who has lived in the territory of the respective region or the City of Minsk for no less than five years and who has no prior criminal record. In addition, a candidate running for the Council of the Republic must not have a foreign citizenship or other documents of a foreign state granting benefits and preferences in connection with political, religious views or ethnicity.

Nomination of candidates to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

The nomination of candidates to the Council of the Republic begins 15 days after the single voting day and ends no later than 25 days after the single voting day.

The candidates to the Council of the Republic nominated by an oblast are elected at the joint meeting of the administration of the local representative and executive bodies of the city or the region of the oblast.

Registration of candidates to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

Candidates to the Council of the Republic are registered by the Central Election Commission.

Registration of candidates to the Council of the Republic begins 25 days after the single voting day and ends no later than 35 days after the single voting day.

Election to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus

Candidates to the Council of the Republic nominated by an oblast are elected at meetings that must be attended by all members of grassroots local councils.

Members of the Council of the Republic from the city of Minsk are elected at the meeting of the City Council of deputies (as administrative districts within the capital do not have district representative bodies).

Secret voting is held following program speeches of the candidates and public discussions of the candidacy.

To be elected to the Council of the Republic a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes of the deputies.

If the necessary number of candidates is not elected in a first round vote, a second round is held.

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