Comments

on amendments to the election legislation of the Russian Federation

and dynamics of these amendments in relation to

federal election campaigns of 2007-2011

 

1. The Federal Law of March 2, 2007 No. 24-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Part of Specification of Requirements for Persons Holding State or Municipal Positions, as well as Positions of State or Municipal Service” established restrictions on financing of teaching or scientific activities of deputies, elective official persons working on a permanent basis solely at the expense of funds of foreign states, international and foreign organizations, foreign citizens and stateless citizens, unless otherwise provided by an International Treaty of the Russian Federation or the legislation of the Russian Federation. The Federal Law No. 24-FL introduced similar restrictions for members of election commissions, as well as stipulated a prohibition on their entering government bodies, trustee and supervisory councils, other bodies of foreign noncommercial non-governmental organizations and their structural branches operating in the territory of the Russian Federation.

 

2. The Federal Law of December 25, 2008 No. 274-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with Adoption of the Federal Law “On Counteraction to Corruption” established several restrictions for members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, as well as for members of election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation, members of other election commissions, who are legal entities working for commissions on permanent (staff) basis.

 

Above mentioned members of election commission, in particular, are prohibited to:

enter into the composition оf аgoverning bodies, trustee and supervisory councils, other bodies of foreign noncommercial non-governmental organizations and their structural branches, unless otherwise provided by an International Treaty of the Russian Federation or the legislation of the Russian Federation;

receive in connection with their obligations any compensation not stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation (loans, cash and other remuneration, services, payments related to entertainment, rest, transportation expenses) from physical and legal entities;

travel in connection with their obligations outside the territory of the Russian Federation at the expense of physical and legal entities, except for business trips carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, International Treaties of the Russian Federation or reciprocal agreements of state power, local self-government bodies with state power bodies of foreign states, international and foreign organizations;

use for purposes not connected to their obligations any means of logistical, financial and information support designed for official activities;

disclose or use for purposes not connected to their obligations information that is classified in accordance with the Federal Law as restricted information or inside information that has become known to them during performance of their obligations;

independently manage securities, shares (shares of participation in organizations’ authorized capitals) that generate profit if that may lead to a conflict of interests.

 

3. The Federal Law of April 5, 2009 No. 42-FL “On Amendments to Articles 25 and 26 of the Federal Law “On Political Parties” and the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” is aimed at establishment of the procedure of participation of public organizations in the election to local self-government bodies. The main objective of the Law is the establishment of new forms of participation of public organizations that are not political parties in nomination of candidates during municipal elections in cooperation with political parties, ensuring representation of such public organizations in local self-government bodies, as well as improvement of quality of local self-government bodies work.

As amended, sub-clause 25 of Article 2 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” (hereinafter – the Federal Law) which stipulates that electoral association is a political party that has the right under the Federal Law to participate in the election, as well as a regional branch or other structural branch of a political party that in accordance with the Federal Law are entitled to participate in the election of relevant level.

At that, at the election to representative bodies of municipal formations, a political party is the only type of electoral association that is entitled to participate in nomination of candidates to lists of candidates from political parties at the municipal election. A public association of All-Russian, relevant inter-regional, regional or local level that is not a political party and that, in accordance with the Federal Law “On political parties” united with a political party (without establishment of a legal entity), is entitled to address this political party participating in the election with a proposal to include its representatives into the lists of candidates from this political party. 

Article 35 of the Federal Law that establishes the procedure of nomination of candidates, lists of candidates by electoral associations was supplemented by clause 21, under which, during the election of deputies of representative bodies of municipal formation, duly registered public associations that are not political parties, their structural branches are entitled to propose candidates for inclusion into lists of candidates nominated by electoral associations. Inclusion of such candidates into lists of candidates is carried out in the order stipulated by the Federal Law “On Political Parties”. In case there are no proposals on candidates’ inclusion into a list of candidates from such public associations, such party proposes a list of candidates on its own.

At this, procedure of nomination of candidates to representative bodies of municipal formation in single-seat and (or) multi-seat electoral districts and head of municipal formations prescribed by the current legislations remains unchanged.

In accordance with clause 14 of Article 35 of the Federal Law as amended by the Federal Law No. 42-FL, if, according to the Federal Law “On Political Parties”, a list of candidates includes candidates nominated by a public association that is not a political party or its structural branch, an election commission organizing the election shall be provided with notarized copy of the agreement stipulated by the Federal Law “On Political Parties” and the list of citizens included into the list of candidates on the basis of this agreement.

In accordance with clause 11 of Article 26 of the Federal Law “On Political Parties” such agreement provides for the liability of a political party, its regional branches or other structural branches at nomination of lists of candidates during relevant election to include into such lists the candidates nominated by such public association or its structural branches, as well as for the grounds that give a political party, its regional branches and other structural branches the right not to include any nominated candidate into a list of candidates. This agreement also provides for the procedure of nomination of candidates for inclusion into a list of candidates made by a public association or its structural branch, as well as for the terms of this agreement.

 

4. The Federal Law of May 12, 2009 No. 94-FL “On Amendment to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection to Increase of Representation of Voters in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federations” provides for guarantees of representation in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of interests of voters who voted for parties whose lists of candidates received from 5 to 7 percent of total votes during the election.

In connection with adoption of this Law several amendments were made to Articles 22-27 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” that establish that formation of relevant election commissions is also carried out on the basis of proposals of political parties that nominated federal lists of candidates that were elected as deputies in accordance with Article 821 of the Federal Law “On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation”, other political parties and other public associations. In accordance with the Article 821 of the Federal Law “On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation” seats are distributed among federal lists of candidates who gained less than 7 but more than 5 percent of votes of voters participated in the election and were not admitted to distribution of deputy seats.

5. The Federal Law of May 12, 2009 No. 95-FL “On Guarantees of Equality of Parliamentary Parties in Covering their Activities by the National State-Owned TV and Radio Channels” stipulates provision of parliamentary parties with guarantees of equality in covering their activities by mass media organizations founded and distributed by All-Russian TV broadcasting organization formed as a federal state unitary enterprise. Presently the activities of such an organization are performed by the federal state unitary enterprise “All-Russian State TV and Radio Broadcasting Organization” (“VGTRK”).

Parliamentary parties are political parties, federal list of candidates of which is admitted to distribution of seats in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Besides, equality in covering shall be provided for activities of political party, federal list of candidates of which is given a seat in accordance with Article 821 of the Federal Law “On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation” on the ground of officially published results of the nearest election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Presently there are no such political parties, since a possibility of such provision of seats is provided only for future election, when 1-2 seats will be given to political parties that gained 5 to 7 percent of votes of voters participated in the voting.

Provisions of the Federal Law are not applicable to the following legal relations:

ensuring the rights of citizens for obtaining and distribution of information on political parties during carrying out of elections and referenda in the Russian Federation;

information covering of activities of state power bodies;

issue and distribution of specialized state general TV and radio channels (children, cultural, music, sport, etc.)

Covering of activities of a parliamentary party includes distribution in national TV programs and radio programs and regional TV programs and radio programs of information on the parliamentary party, its governing and other bodies, its regional branches and other structural branches; members of governing bodies of parliamentary party; deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation who are members of relevant faction, as well as on activities of factions of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, parliamentary parties’ factions in legislative (representative) state power bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation.

Within one calendar month information on each parliamentary party shall be equally represented in national TV programs and radio programs. Control over ensuring of equality of parliamentary parties in covering their activities by state general TV channels and radio channels is provided by the CEC of Russia.

In case of violation by any state general TV channel or radio channel of requirement on equal covering of activities of parliamentary parties, the CEC of Russia takes a decision on the necessity to compensate the parliament party which rights were violated the missing amount of air time. This decision shall be executed by relevant state general TV channel (radio channel) in the manner prescribed by law.

 

According to the CEC of Russia information, legislation of other countries do not provide for such regulation.

 

6. The Federal Law of November 9, 2009 No. 250-FL “On Amendments to Article 3 of the Supplement to the Federal Law “On Guarantees of Constitutional Rights of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Elect and Be Elected to Local Self-Government Bodies” and Article 4 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum”, the minimum age of a citizen at which such citizen can be elected a deputy of a local self-government representative body was changed from 21 to 18 years.

A citizen of the Russian Federation aged 18 has the right to elect and be elected a deputy of a representative body of municipal formation, vote at referendum, and on reaching the age stipulated by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, constitutions (charters), laws of subjects of the Russian Federation – to be elected a deputy of a legislative (representative) state power body, elective official of local self-government body.

The minimum age of a candidate shall be not more than 21 on the voting day during the election of deputies of a legislative (representative) state power body of subject of the Russian Federation and elective official of local self-government body.

7. In accordance with the provision on necessity of enhancing the role and significance of political parties in the Russian Federation, formulated in the Appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of 2009, the Federal Law of April 22, 2010 No. 63-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with Increase of Representation of Voters in Legislative (Representative) State Power Bodies of Subjects of the Russian Federation and Exemption from Collection of Signatures of Voters by Political Parties which List of Candidates Received Seats in Legislative (Representative) State Power Bodies of Subjects of the Russian Federation” was adopted. In accordance with this Law, during the election to legislative (representative) state power bodies of subject of the Russian Federation as well as during the election to local self-government bodies in the territory of this subject of the Russian Federation, registration of a candidate, a list of candidates nominated by a political party which list of candidates is admitted to distribution of deputy seats or the list of candidates that was given a deputy seat in this legislative (representative) state power body of subject of the Russian Federation, is carried out without collection of voters signatures. Regional branches and other structural branches of such party are also exempted from collection of voters’ signatures if they nominate candidates, lists of candidates for the mentioned election.

These provisions are established with the aim of ensuring representation in legislative (representative) state power bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation of political parties that received 5 and more percent of votes during regional elections and exemption of political parties represented in these bodies from collection of voters’ signatures. Expression of will of voters during the election previous to this one is an equal alternative of signatures’ collection as voters already expressed their support for a certain political party by voting in its favor during the election. Thus, these provisions do not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation and do not set any discrimination with regards to other political parties that have to prove voters’ support through collection of voters’ signatures.

Moreover, the Federal Law No. 63-FL stipulates the procedure of providing deputy seats in legislative (representative) state power body of subject of the Russian Federation to lists of candidates that received less than minimum percent of votes prescribed by laws of subject of the Russian Federation, but not less than 5 percent of votes of voters participated in the voting that is similar to the federal level procedure, as well as provision of not less than one deputy seat to each list of candidates admitted in accordance with the law to distribution of deputy seats.

8. The Federal Law of May 31, 2010 No. 112-FL “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” in Connection with Change of Early Voting Procedure during the Election of Local Self-Government Bodies” is aimed at implementation of provisions regarding the procedure of early voting during local election formulated in the Appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on November 12, 2009. The aim of these novelties is prevention of unlawful activities connected to abuse of electoral rights during early voting.

The Federal Law No. 112-FL stipulates that early voting during the election to federal state power bodies, state power bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation, referendum of the Russian Federation is carried out only on the grounds stipulated by the law.

In particular, a relevant commission is entitled to carry out early voting (not earlier than in 15 days before the voting day) for all voters, referendum participants at one or more election precincts, referendum precincts, formed in hard-to-reach and remote areas, on ships at sea on the voting day, at polar stations, as well as at election precincts, referendum precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation, and (or) carry out early voting of groups of voters, referendum participants residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation.

The list of early voted referendum participants is prepared by a territorial election commission or an election commission of municipal formation and together with ballots of early voted referendum participants is submitted to precinct election commission that continues preparation of this list for the relevant election precinct. If early voting is carried out at precinct election commission, the list of early voted referendum participants is prepared by precinct election commission. The list of early voted referendum participants is attached to the list of referendum participants.

Directly after receipt of ballots by precinct election commission, a special mark “Early voted” is made opposite the names of early voted referendum participants who voted at territorial election commission, election commission of municipal formation. If a referendum participant voted earlier at precinct election commission, this mark is made in the list of referendum participants at distribution of ballots.

9. The Federal Law of June 4, 2010 No. 117-FL “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” in Connection with Change of Election Commissions Terms of Office” stipulates an increase of terms of office of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation, election commissions of municipal formations and territorial election commissions from 4 to 5 years.

Change of terms of office of election commission is stipulated by the increase of terms of office of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation up to 5 years. It also accounts the fact that the legislation of most of subjects of the Russian Federation prescribes 5-year long terms of office of legislative (representative) state power bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation, representative bodies and official of local self-government.

These bodies directly participate in formation of election commissions. Accordingly, the Federal Law No. 117-FL provides for synchronization of terms of formation of election commissions and further participation of commissions in organization and carrying out of the election to corresponding bodies.

10. The Federal Law of July 1, 2010 No. 133-FL “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” prescribes a closed list of documents required for submission by electoral association to an election commission that organizes the election, if the subject law stipulates attestation of the list of candidates for single-seat (multi-seat) electoral districts. This Federal Law also determines which documents shall be submitted to a commission that organizes the election, and which – to district commission of corresponding electoral district.

These changes allow establishment of a unified approach to confirmation of lists of candidates for single-seat (multi-seat) electoral districts during the election in subjects of the Russian Federation, unification of corresponding procedures as well as establishment of unified grounds for declining attestation of lists of candidates for single-seat (multi-seat) electoral districts. These grounds include absence or incomplete set of documents required by the above mentioned Federal Law No. 133-FL, as well as non-observance of requirements to candidates nomination stipulated by the Federal Law “On Political Parties”, the Federal Law.

Moreover, the Federal Law No. 133-FL restricts possibilities of establishment by the law of a subject of the Russian Federation of grounds for declining attestation of lists of candidates for the single electoral district.

Adoption of the Federal Law No. 133-FL allowed ensuring of equality of rights of candidates nominated by electoral association as a single list for single-seat (multi-seat) electoral districts, as well as within a list of candidates for the single electoral district regardless of the election location.

Clause 2 of Article 30 of the Federal Law was supplemented with a provision that at publication (informing) of decisions of election commissions containing information on candidates the data that shall not be published include serial number and number of passport of a candidate or any identity document substituting a citizen’s passport, date of its issue, name and code number of bodies that issued such passport or identity documents substituting a citizen’s passport, and instead of the residence address of a candidate a name of subject of the Russian Federation, district, town or other settlement of residence of a candidate shall be published.

11. The Federal Law of July 27, 2010 No. 222-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with Provision of Additional Guarantees of Equal Conditions in Provision with Premises for Meetings with Voters, Referendum Participants” is aimed at implementation of provisions of the Appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of November 12, 2009.

The legislation of the Russian Federation on election and referenda prescribes that if a premise owned by the state or municipal formation or by an organization, which authorized (share) capital consists of over 30 percent of share of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation or municipal formations on the day of official publication of decision to call elections or referendum, was provided to a registered candidate, electoral association, initiative group for carrying out of referendum or other group of referendum participants for the purposes of meetings with voters, referendum participants, the owner of such premises has no right to refuse another registered candidate, electoral association, other group of referendum participants (initiative group for carrying out of referendum) provision of the premises on similar conditions at another time during the election campaign period.

In case of provision of premises its owner, not later than on the day following the day of premises provision, shall notify corresponding election commission in written form on the fact of provision of premises, conditions of this provision, and on the fact that during the election campaign period this premises can be provided to other registered candidates, electoral associations, other groups of referendum participants (initiative group for carrying out of referendum).

Election commission within two days from the day of such notice shall publish corresponding information on the Internet or otherwise inform the registered candidates, electoral associations, initiative group for carrying out of referendum and other groups of referendum participants.

In connection therewith changes were made to Article 5.15 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation establishing administrative responsibility (for officials) for violation of the procedure and terms of notifying election commission on the fact of provision of premises for meetings with voters, referendum participants, as well as violation of rights of registered candidates, electoral associations, initiative group for carrying out of referendum and other groups of referendum participants.

12. The Federal Law of October 4, 2010 No. 263-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Connection with Clarification of the Procedure of Use of Absentee Ballots during the Election and Referenda” is aimed at implementation of provision of the Appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of November 12, 2009 regarding necessary measures for prevention of unlawful activities with absentee certificates during the election and referenda.

This Law enshrines unified requirements to production, distribution and use of absentee certificates during the election and referenda of all levels where the law permits voting with absentee certificates, as well as establishes the forms of absentee certificates (without a coupon and with a coupon, if the law provides for repeat voting during the election); established that absentee certificates are the strictly accountable documents with consecutive numeration at all the territory of the election, referenda. For the purposes of counterfeit protection of absentee certificates they are produced on paper with water marks and (or) typographically printed microprints and (or) other special protection elements. Commission that organizes the election, referendum places the order for production of absentee certificates centrally, on the basis of its decision.

Absentee certificate is issued by written request of voter, referendum participant with statement of the reason for such absentee certificate. Absentee certificate is provided against personal signature of voter, referendum participant or his representative on the basis of a letter of attorney.

Repeat distribution of absentee certificate is not allowed. If an absentee certificate is lost, its duplicate is not provided.

If an absentee certificate blank is lost, election commission that establishes this fact shall promptly prepare a corresponding act and take a decision stating the number of lost absentee certificate blank, the fact of the blank loss and the reason of loss. This decision shall be submitted to superior election commission and election commission organizing the election, referendum that will acknowledge an absentee certificate invalid. Invalid absentee certificate does not constitute the ground for inclusion of voter, referendum participant into list of voters, referendum participants and is subject to withdrawal on its presentation.

With account of increased requirements for production of absentee certificates a criminal responsibility is established for their illegal production, storage and transportation of illegally produced absentee certificates, and subsequent amendments were made to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Moreover, in connection with increased requirements for distribution and use of absentee certificates an administrative responsibility is established for violation of their distribution procedure, illegal obtaining of ballot, including through absentee certificate, and use of consciously forged absentee certificate. Corresponding amendments were made to the Code of Administrative Offence of the Russian Federation.

13. The Federal Law of December 23, 2010 No. 384-FL “On Amendments to Article 64 of the Federal Law “On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation” provides for the increase of limit of expenditure from electoral fund of political party, regional branch of political party.

14. The Federal Law of March 8, 2011 No. 34-FL “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” clarifies the procedure of combining of the voting days for the election to state power bodies of different levels.

It prescribes that the law of subject of the Russian Federation may increase or reduce (but not longer than by six months) the terms of office of its legislative (representative) state power body with the purpose of combining of the voting day during the election of deputies to this body with the voting day during the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. At this it is not allowed to increase or terminate the terms of office of legislative (representative) body of subject of the Russian Federation, if as a result a voter will have a possibility to fill in over four ballots at one time, except ballots issued in connection with early, repeat or by-election.

It also clarified that if elections to newly formed legislative (representative) state power body of subject of the Russian Federation were carried out on the other than second Sunday of March day, the next elections to this body will be carried out on the day closest to the day of expiration of the terms of office of this body, and if such a day is the second Sunday of October of the year of the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation – on the voting day during the mentioned election.

15. The Federal Law of March 20, 2011 No. 38-FL “On Amendments to Articles 35 and 38 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizen of the Russian Federation to Participate in Referendum” and to the Federal Law “On Basic Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation” in Connection with Application of Proportional Election System during the Election of Deputies of Representative Bodies of Municipal Districts and Urban Districts” is aimed at implementation of provisions of the Appeal of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of November 30, 2010 with regards to application of proportional election system during the election of representative bodies of municipal formations.

In accordance with the Federal Law No. 38-FL, not less than half of deputy seats in representative body of municipal district and urban district with 20 deputies and more are distributed among lists of candidates nominated by political parties (their regional branches or other structural branches) in proportion to the number of votes received by each candidates list. The law of subject of the Russian Federation may prescribe required minimal percent of votes received by the list of candidates in order to be admitted to distribution of deputy seats, which shall be not more than 5 percent of votes of citizens participated in the voting.

Thus, during the election of representative bodies of mentioned municipal formations proportional and mixed (majority-proportional) election systems can be applied. At the election of representative bodies of other municipal formations, including representative bodies of municipal districts and urban districts with less than 20 deputies, proportional, mixed or majority election system can be applied. Conditions of application of specific election system at such municipal formations are established by the law of subject of the Russian Federation depending on the number of voters in municipal formation, type of municipal formation and other circumstances.

In connection with changes therewith, the Federal Law No. 38-FL establishes requirements for deputies, members of factions, and for factions in representative bodies of municipal formations. There requirements are similar to those established for deputies, members of factions, and for factions in legislative (representative) state power bodies of subjects of the Russian Federation.

In particular, a faction may include all deputies elected within a list of candidates, as well as deputies elected in single-seat and multi-seat electoral districts. Faction may consist of one deputy elected within a list of candidates.

A deputy, member of faction, can be a member of the political party that is connected to his faction.  A deputy elected within a list of candidates cannot leave a faction. Non-observance of these requirements shall result in premature termination of deputy powers.

16. The Federal Law of April 5, 2011 No. 44-FL “On Amendments to Article 25 of the Federal Law “On Political Parties” provides that permanent collegial governing bodies of political party have the right to nominate party candidates for regional and local representative power bodies in case of absence of regional or local branch of such party. This right of permanent collegial governing bodies of political party may be stipulated by its charter.

17. The Federal Law of June 14, 2011 No. 143-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation with the Purpose of Improvement of Mechanisms of Ensuring the Electoral Rights of Citizens” was adopted for the purpose of bringing the legislation of the Russian Federation in compliance with the UN Convention on Rights of the Disabled.

In accordance with this Federal Law in case of nomination as a candidate, including within a list of candidates, of a disabled person who in connection with this cannot independently write an application confirming his consent to stand for respective electoral district, attest signatures’ list, fill in or attest other documents stipulated by the law, such person is entitled to use the assistance of another person.

Materials produced in large fonts and (or) with the use of Braille point system shall be placed at information board with the purpose of informing of voters, referendum participants that are visually impaired. Election precincts, referendum precincts that have boards with such materials are to be established by the decision of commission organizing the election, referendum, and during the election to federal state power bodies – by the decision of election commission of subject of the Russian Federation.

Voter, referendum participant who cannot independently sign for a ballot or fill in a ballot, participate in electronic voting, has the right to use the assistance of another voter, referendum participant who is not a member of election commission, registered candidate, authorized representative of electoral association, member or authorized representative of initiative group for carrying out of referendum, attorney of candidate, electoral association, observer.

18. The Federal Law of July 23, 2011 No. 259-FL “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” establishes legislative criteria of acknowledgment of voters’ signatures as invalid or inadequate, unifies forms of signatures’ lists, and simplifies the procedure of submission of documents by electoral associations to relevant election commissions.

For example, if an electoral association nominates candidates for several single-seat and (or) multi-seat electoral districts, documents can be submitted to election commission registering candidates by an authorized representative of such electoral district or the first candidate nominated by this electoral district who submitted required documents. In such a case other candidates nominated by this electoral district cannot submit documents to the same election commission.

Form of signatures’ list for collection of voters’ signatures in support of nomination of federal lists of candidates for deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, nomination (self-nomination) of candidates for the President of the Russian Federation, the procedure of its filling in and attestation, the procedure of verification of voters’ signatures and grounds for acknowledgment of voters’ signatures invalid and (or) inadequate are established by the federal law.

19. The Federal Law of July 25, 2011 No. 262-FL “On Amendment to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation On Election and Referenda in Part of Clarification of Requirements for Voting outside Polling Stations and other Issues of Voting Organization” establishes maximum number of movable ballot boxes used on the voting day for voting outside polling station at one election precinct, referendum precinct depending on the number of voters, referendum participants registered in the territory of election precinct, referendum precinct. The number established is as follows:

up to 501 voters, referendum participants – 1 movable ballot box;

from 501 to 1001 voters, referendum participants – 2 movable ballot boxes;

over 1000 voters, referendum participants – 3 movable ballot boxes.

Number of movable ballot boxes used for voting outside polling station may be increased, but by no more than 1 movable box if at least one of the following conditions exists:

election precinct, referendum precinct includes territories of several settlements, and a settlement where polling station is located is outside the limits of walking distance to other settlements during the voting time;

temporary stay of voters, referendum participants from the territory without formed election precinct, referendum precinct is organized in the territory of election precinct, referendum precinct;

over 50 voters, referendum participants over 80 years old and (or) the disabled are registered in the territory of election precinct, referendum precinct;

due to combination of voting days of several elections a voter has a possibility to vote using two ballots simultaneously.

In any of the cases no more than 3 movable ballot boxes can be used for voting outside polling station.