What forms of checks are undertaken to verify signatures?
Belarus
- All signatures are checked
- Sample of signatures are checked
ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS (with amendments in 2011)
Article 116. Consideration of the Initiative of theCitizens on the Holding of the Republican Referendum
Signature lists shall be submittedby the initiative group not later than the date of expiry established for thecollection of signatures to the regional or town executive committee or to the town local administration that shall, within a ten-day period, verify authenticity of citizens’ signatures in the signature lists. In this case, at least 20 per cent of the citizens’ signatures in the signature listssubmitted by the initiative group shall be verified.
Recall
Article 137. Procedure and Time of Presenting SignatureLists to the Local Councils of Deputies. Determination of Results of Collectingof Electors’ Signatures
Authenticity of electors’ signatures in support of the proposal on initiation of the recall of a deputy shall be verified according to the procedure provided for by parts fourteen and sixteen of Article 61 of this Code.
[…]
Article 61. Procedure of Nomination of Candidates forPresident of the Republic of Belarus
Should the signature list receivedby the regional, town or town district commission contain signatures ofelectors residing in the territory of different regions, towns (subordinated toOblast) or town districts only the signatures collected in the territory of thedistrict, town or town district where the commission to which this signaturelist is submitted shall be subject to verification and account. Othersignatures shall not be verified and taken into account.
When several signatures of one andthe same elector in support on nomination of one and the same candidate havebeen found, only one signature shall be considered as authentic while the remainder of the signatures shall be considered as inauthentic.
Article 138. Taking Decision to Appoint Voting onRecalling a Deputy
The Central Commission, therespective territorial electoralcommission shall be entitled, within 15 days after the date of receipt ofnecessary documents (records and signature lists), to make a selective orcomplete check of observance of the requirements of Section VIII of this Codewhen initiating the question of recalling a deputy.
