Belarus
Description of Electoral System:
(courtesy of IFES election guide)
The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki), 56 members are elected by regional governing councils and 8 members are appointed by the president, all to serve 4-year terms. In the Chamber of Representatives (Palata Pretsaviteley), 110 members are elected by universal adult suffrage to serve 4-year terms.
Electoral Systems Snapshot
(Courtesy of International IDEA)
*Click on links for definitions
| Electoral System for National Legislature | TRS |
| Type | Plurality/Majority |
| Tiers | 1 |
| Legislature Size (Directly elected, voting members) | 110, 110 |
| Electoral System for President | TRS |
Politics in Belarus
(courtesy of Wikipedia)
The politics of Belarus takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Belarus is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. Belarus’s declaration of independence on 27 July 1990, did not stem from long-held political aspirations but from reactions to domestic and foreign events.
Past elections
The Elections to the House of Representatives were held on 17 October, 2004. Deputies were elected for a four-year term of office from 110 single-mandate constituencies, according to the majoritarian formula. Candidates who received more than 50 per cent of the votes in a valid first round were elected. If none of the candidates emerged as winner in the first round in a constituency, a second round is held between the two candidates with highest numbers of votes within two weeks. Alongside with the parliamentary elections a referendum had been called to abolish the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency. To find out more about the election and referenda results click here. To read about online campaigning click here.
Presidental elections took place on 19 March, 2006 according to a two-round system. In compliance with the electoral legislation, for presidential elections to be valid, 50 per cent of the registered electors must cast their vote. To emerge as winner, a candidate must receive more than half of all votes cast. If none of the candidates is elected in the first round a second round takes place within two weeks between the two candidates who secured the highest number of votes. For information about the election results click here. To read about online campaigning click here.
