On October 18, Minsk / Ekaterina Nechaeva - BELTA /. 6390 polling stations have been established in Belarus for the Presidential elections, which will be held on December 19. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Nikolai Lozovik, Secretary of the Central Election Commission for Elections and National Referendums. The largest number of polling stations have been formed in the Gomel and Minsk regions (1114 and 1085 respectively), 986 in the Brest region, 911 in the Vitebsk region, 818 in the Mogilev region, 730 in the Grodno region, and 702 in Minsk. Among them are 280 polling stations that will operate in sanatoria, health resorts, hospitals and other medical and preventive institutions, and 52 in military units. In addition, 44 polling stations have been formed outside Belarus. After the formation of polling stations, the formation of precinct election commissions and the nomination of representatives for inclusion in their composition begins. Each precinct election commission can consist of 5 to 19 people. An exception is made only for commissions formed abroad. Until October 31 inclusive, political parties, public associations, work collectives and citizens can nominate candidates for inclusion in the precinct commissions. The formation of such commissions will last until November 3. As for the candidates from whom Belarusian citizens will have to choose the head of state on December 19, they will be determined by November 23. So far, initiative groups of potential candidates continue to collect signatures in support of their nomination. -0-

BELTA