Dmitry Khoma spoke about how the presidential elections went in the Vitebsk region
– It proceeded in full compliance with the election legislation of Belarus, – stated the chairman of the regional election commission, Dmitry Khoma, at a briefing with media representatives. – We can state that a huge amount of work by everyone stands behind the results of the past elections: both local authorities and members of territorial and precinct election commissions. Both during early voting and on the main day, a festive and calm atmosphere prevailed. And this applied not only to voters but also to commission members who were not distracted by any provocations. Comfortable and safe conditions were provided, for which special words of gratitude go to the law enforcement block, medical workers, and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
No gross violations of public order or commission of crimes on the territory of polling stations were recorded, but isolated cases of photographing ballots did occur. 4055 national observers, as well as more than 30 international observers from various missions, worked in the region. No remarks were received from them.
As for the voting results, today, on Tuesday, after receiving the protocols from all territorial commissions and their processing, the final meeting of the regional election commission is planned.
The forecast that voter turnout in cities would be lower than in rural areas was justified. Thus, in Vitebsk, less than 84% of those included in the lists voted (by districts of the regional center, this is 85.69% for Zheleznodorozhny, 80.81% for Pervomaisky, and 83.61% for Oktyabrsky district). Meanwhile, rural districts showed higher activity: for example, Dokshitsky and Rossonsky – more than 94%, Beshenkovichsky and Sharkovshchinsky – more than 93%.
The work of the commissions in rural areas, noted the chairman of the regional election commission, was facilitated by the fact that additional ballot boxes for voting at the location were allocated, based on the fact that there are a large number of sparsely populated villages in the Vitebsk region where elderly citizens live. In some districts, the number of voters at home reached 200 or more, while within the precincts of the regional center, it ranged from 20 to 40 people. By the way, the process of updating ballot boxes is underway, and by the next elections, Dmitry Khoma believes, it will be completed. The weather was also favorable – meteorological conditions did not create additional obstacles for commission members visiting voters at home.
The preliminary results of the Presidential elections by candidates in the Vitebsk region are as follows: 1.49% of voters cast their votes for Oleg Gaidukevich, 1.47% for Anna Konopatskaya, 87.61% for Alexander Lukashenko, 3.72% for Sergey Syrankov, and 1.72% for Alexander Khizhnyak. 3.42% voted against all.