Belarusian human rights activists want to see after ballot boxes at night

Neither members of election commission, nor observers have an opportunity to control safekeeping of ballot papers.

“For Fair Elections 2010” civil campaign has addressed the Central Election Commission with a request to give an explanation that in the period of early voting after the polling station is closed observers have a right to see after ballot box storage conditions in the same room where a police officer on duty stays. “Narodnaya Volya” reporter has been informed about that by the press-service of “For Fair Elections 2010” campaign.

As said by the coordinators of the campaign, this explanation complies with the legislation completely. Under Article 13 Part 4 of the Electoral Code on the voting day an observer has a right to stay in the premises for voting from the moment when ballot boxes are sealed till the end of summing up the results of the ballot. On the analogy, an observer has a right to be present at the early voting from the moment when ballot boxes are sealed till the end of summing up the results of the ballot.

The reason is that the Electoral Code of Belarus does not contain rules for the conditions of keeping the ballot box in the period of the early voting after the time of voting is over. The election practice that has shaped in Belarus shows that in the period of early voting every day after the voting time is over and till the polling stations are opened again, in the premises where the ballot box is kept, or neat this room, only a policeman is on duty. Neither members of the election commission nor observers at that time have an opportunity to control keeping of ballot papers of people who had taken part in the early voting.

Such a practice creates conditions for rigging election results, the letter sent to the CEC stresses.

The letter to the CEC has been signed by the chairman of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World”, the national coordinator of “For Fair Elections 2010” campaign Syarhei Kalyakin, a deputy head of “For Freedom” movement, a national coordinator of “For Fair Elections 2010” campaign Viktar Karnyaenka, presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov, Ryhor Kastusyou, Alyaksandr Mikhalevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Yaraslau Ramanchuk, Vital Rymasheuski and Mikalai Statkevich.