No one is indifferent: how early voting is proceeding in Vitebsk
Quite unexpectedly, even before the polling stations opened, there were about seven people in the foyer who had come to vote. Let's meet them. Nadezhda Ishchenko is a pensioner, she is 67 years old:
– It is imperative to express one's opinion in the elections, as it is our future. We are satisfied with the government – there has never been such order and construction before. I moved here in 1992, and I received a free apartment back then – we were alone in an open field, walking through mud, few people wanted to live here. And over the years, a whole city has been built here! And there is order and beauty everywhere. How can we not support this government?
Seamstress Valentina Bizunova works on a two-on, two-off schedule and came to the polling station on her day off:
– I never miss elections, especially now that we are electing the head of the country. Yes, not everything is going smoothly, and the government faces many difficult tasks. We will live and see how it copes with new challenges. Of course, the current campaign is very exciting, and it is not always clear what is happening. For example, on the internet, they advise not to vote early, but they urge you to photograph the ballot and send it somewhere. Why is this necessary? What will they do with it later?
Pensioner Tatyana Buevich has participated in elections all her conscious life:
– I am voting for Belarus. People of the old school approach such matters responsibly. By the way, when I was young, I also worked in a precinct commission and went door-to-door with the ballot box. What do I expect from the coming years? Peace, a better life, and I would also like a higher pension.
Margarita Vaykhanskaya came to the polling station wearing a mask. When asked if she always votes, she admits that she used to skip it. Now she is sure that everyone should vote:
– This is not just a civic duty, it is a necessity. Our fathers and grandfathers went through a difficult path to freedom and independence. The task of our generation is not only to give birth to children, but also to preserve what we have, to do everything so that future generations live with dignity. Everything good that exists in the country is our common achievement, of the entire people. Everything bad is a common fault.
In the first half hour of polling station No. 54 operating, more than 15 people expressed their will. According to the chairperson of the precinct election commission Irina Loshakova, early voting is convenient for many:
– People come from the moment of opening; it is the voter's right to determine the optimal time for voting for themselves. 1806 people are registered at our polling station. Based on the practice of past campaigns, I can say that about a third vote early, and there is a large influx on Saturdays. This year, in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the Central Election Commission, all members of the election commission are working in gloves and masks. The masks are disposable and are changed every two hours. The most important thing is health.
Traditionally, souvenirs have been prepared at the polling station for those who vote for the first time, and sweets for children – many go to the polls as a family. In the Vitebsk region, 729 polling stations opened today. According to the Central Election Commission, there are about 850,000 voters in the region.