Teachers made work in election commissions

A teacher of a Svetlahorsk school, who asked to say her name, told how election commissions were formed:

“Head master of the gymnasium Pyotr Kulakouski had a private talk with every teacher and said he counted them in election commissions. Most of the teachers do not want to work in these commissions. Those who tried to refuse were reminded about labour contract, the head master said he would take into consideration that fact when extending the contract,” the woman said to Viasna human rights center.

Election law allows to nominee candidates for district election commissions at meetings of labour collectives. Are meetings on nominating for commissions held?

“What meetings do you speak about? Teachers are on vacation now, in summer. The head master just called them and included in the commission. He will be a chairman of the commission, as at all previous elections,” the teacher said. She thinks the things are the same in other schools.

During previous elections, opposition representatives claimed votes are rigged at ballot stations. What attitude do teachers have to this?

“When counting the votes, everyone is given a pack of ballots, but only the commission chairman knows the total result. Then everyone signs a report. You know, the commission members are not interested in this, everyone just want to finish the work and go home.”

Is it true that there are no people to work in election commissions and teachers are forced t them?

“Members for commissions may also be proposed by gathering signatures of citizens and political parties. The democratic forces nominate their representatives of parties and citizens at every election. But the authorities don’t include these people in commissions, though these people want to work there. We nominate them this time, too,” Svyatlana Mikhalchanka, activist of the Party of Communist of Belarus in Svetlahorsk, told.