Miory Regional Executive Committee
About electoral sovereignty, electronic voting, and literature. What did the youth of Vitebsk discuss with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Igor Karpenko?
More than 200 young people—students and working professionals—gathered at the “Chance Meeting” with Igor Karpenko as part of a new educational project at the Vitebsk Concert Hall. Many of them cast their ballots for the first time in the Presidential election in January 2025.
Welcoming the youth, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission noted the high activity of this particular category of voters in the recent electoral campaign: 96% of those registered on the voter lists turned out to vote.
Following a comprehensive electoral cycle that included a referendum, a Unified Voting Day, and the Presidential election, the Central Election Commission always conducts an analysis of the activities of precinct commissions and organizers. Such meetings with young people are not only part of the CEC’s educational outreach but also provide an opportunity to hear firsthand the younger generation’s views on the existing electoral system, as well as to collect their initiatives and proposals.
– It is important for us to maintain the connecting thread between generations that cements and unites Belarusian society. Policy-making must be structured in such a way that young people engage in public and socially significant projects, as well as in the development of the economy, culture, and other sectors. Today’s meeting is informal on one hand, yet highly relevant for us on the other. We frequently observe cases where external actors seek to undermine state stability by exerting influence on the electoral system from abroad. Young people are typically the main lever of such influence. It is crucial for us to involve young citizens in Belarus’s socio-political processes so that they understand how the electoral system functions and develop a high level of trust in it.
The young people asked Igor Karpenko about the digitalization of the electoral process, the implementation of various services, including those enabling electronic voting. The Chair of the CEC stated that he does not rule out such a possibility, but primarily emphasized services that would facilitate the work of organizers – namely, the creation of a voter registry, as well as software that automates the verification and validation of signatures in support of candidates.
They also asked Igor Karpenko what inspires and motivates him, while some of the young attendees sought advice for their professional development.
Maxim Malinet, a social studies teacher at Vitebsk School No. 33, left the meeting not empty-handed. The young man decided to ask what rating the Chair of the CEC would give himself in his capacity as Minister of Education, and whether he was satisfied with the quality of the current education system.
Incidentally, the Chair of the CEC holds a pedagogical degree and served as Minister from 2016 to 2021.
For the best question, Igor Karpenko presented the young man with the book "Symbols of Sovereign Belarus".
– I did not expect such a turn of events. I simply wanted to ask, as a fellow educator, about the pressing challenges facing the education system and to hear his professional perspective. As a result, I received not only a boost of positivity and motivation from the conversation, but also a pleasant gift.