Elections to local Councils of Deputies in Belarus
A session of the Vitebsk Oblast Council of Deputies
Local Councils of Deputies are elected by the citizens of the relevant administrative-territorial units for a four-year term.
Elections to local Councils are held in a single-member constituency.
Constituencies are formed proportionally to the population for the elections of deputies to local Councils of Deputies. From 40 to 60 constituencies are set up for the elections to a regional Council of Deputies and Minsk City Council of Deputies; from 25 to 40 constituencies – for the elections to a district and town Council of Deputies; from 15 to 25 constituencies - to a town Council of Deputies (towns of regional subordination); from 5 to 11 constituencies - to a township and village Council of Deputies.
Scheduling the elections to local Councils of Deputies in the Republic of Belarus
Elections to local councils of deputies are called by the President of the Republic of Belarus no later than three months before the single voting day.
Elections are held on the single voting day on the last Sunday of February in the fifth year of the mandate of local councils of deputies.
Requirements for candidates for local Councils of Deputies
A citizen of the Republic of Belarus, who is over 18, has no prior criminal record and who is a permanent resident of the area where he is nominated or in a position related to the area can be elected deputy of a local Council of Deputies.
Candidates to local councils of deputies cannot be nominated if they have an unexpunged or outstanding conviction.
The Electoral Code allows citizens of the Russian Federation permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus to participate in elections to local councils of deputies in accordance with the international treaty of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.
Nomination of the candidates for local Councils of Deputies in the Republic of Belarus
Nomination of candidates for deputies to local Councils starts within 70 days and ends 40 days prior to the voting day.
Nomination of candidates for deputies from political parties to regional, Minsk City, district and town councils is exercised by regional, Minsk City, district and town organizations of the parties respectively, which are formed according to the established procedures before the elections are called.
Nomination of candidates for deputies from political parties to town (towns of regional subordination), township and village Councils of Deputies is exercised by district and town organizations of the parties respectively, which are formed according to the established procedures before the elections are called.
Candidates for local Councils can be also nominated by labor collectives or through the collection of signatures of citizens in the given constituency:
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in organizations with at least 150 employees are needed to be nominated candidates for region and Minsk City Council of Deputies;
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in organizations with at least 75 employees - for district and town (towns of regional subordination) Council of Deputies;
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in organizations with at least 20 employees - for town (towns of regional subordination), township and village Council of Deputies.
A person seeking nomination must be supported by at least one percent of eligible voters residing in the respective constituency, but not less than 10 voters.
Registration of candidates for local Councils of Deputies in the Republic of Belarus
Registration of candidates for local Councils begins 40 days and ends 30 days prior to elections.
A candidate is registered provided he/she has presented the necessary documents to precinct, territorial election commissions before the start of registration.
Vote counting of the elections to local Councils of Deputies in the Republic of Belarus
A candidate for the Council of Deputies is considered elected if he wins the majority of votes. In case there is only one candidate nominated he is considered elected if he has received more than half of the votes.
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