Only a few minutes left until the polling stations close in

Only a few minutes remain until the polling stations close. However, despite the morning and daytime activity of voters, in the evening, residents of Orsha also come to vote.

At polling station No. 4 in secondary school No. 17 in Orsha, it is very bright and spacious. The election commission greets the residents of Orsha with a smile, quickly finds the voter by the specified registration address, and hands out the ballot. Voting as a family has become a familiar sight for journalists today. According to parents, children are looking forward to this moment to go to the polling station. Dad returned from work – it's time to go to mom, who works at the election commission, to participate in the voting together.

In the village of Andreyevshchina in the Orsha district, at polling station No. 63, residents of this village, as well as Anibalovo, Berestenovo, Mitkovshchina, Kudaevo, Solovyevo, Pridneprovye, and others from the Andreyevshchina village council, are voting. The polling station is located in the village library-club – branch No. 34 of the Orsha centralized library system. The room is small but cozy, and there is enough space for everyone. In the evening, there was also activity observed here. As they exit, voters peek into the buffet, where they can also buy groceries.

At polling station No. 25 in the building of the Orsha city organizational structure of the Republican public association "DOSAAF of the Republic of Belarus," the main flow was during the day. By evening, it was already less crowded here.

Upon the arrival of the journalist from "Arshanki" at polling station No. 32 in the Orsha interdistrict department of the Vitebsk branch of the trading RUP "Belsouizpechat," the activity was also low by evening. Many had already voted, but as assured at the polling station, voters continue to come. Indeed, for several minutes, the compact room filled with people. They mark the voters by addresses, residents of Orsha make their choice, and send the ballots into the ballot boxes. There are also first-time voters. The chairperson of the election commission Viktor Mishulsky hands over a gift edition of "Symbols of Sovereign Belarus" to sincere applause.

As at all other polling stations, police and emergency services staff are on duty here.

Polling stations will close today at 20:00. Then the votes will be counted. Journalists from "Arshanskaya Gazeta" will continue to cover the main day of the presidential elections of the Republic of Belarus.

Sergey SLEPTSOV.
Photo by the author.