Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation

Chapter III. ELECTORAL PRECINCTS. VOTER LISTS

Article 25. Formation of Electoral Precincts

1. Electoral precincts shall be formed in order to conduct voting and count votes in the election of the President of the Russian Federation. Electoral precincts shall be formed on the basis of the information about the number of voters registered on the territories of municipalities in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.”

2. Electoral precincts shall be formed with the concurrence of the relevant territorial election commission by the head of the local administration of a municipal raion, urban okrug, inner territory of a city of federal significance and, in the cases provided for in the law of a subject of the Russian Federation – the city of federal significance, by the head of the territorial body of executive power of the city of federal significance or by the persons mentioned in Clauses 5 and 6 of this article. In the cases provided for in Clause 4 of this article electoral precincts shall be formed by a territorial election commission. Electoral precincts shall be formed not later than 50 days before voting day, with due regard to local and other conditions, so as to ensure maximum convenience for voters.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

3. The number of voters registered on the territory of each electoral precinct shall not exceed 3,000.

4. In places where voters stay temporarily (hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where persons suspected of or charged with commission of a crime are held in custody and other places of temporary stay), in hard-to-reach or remote areas, on ships at sea on voting day, at polar stations and also at the places of settlement of voters who have no residence registration within the Russian Federation electoral precincts may be formed by a territorial election commission within the period established by Clause 2 of this article, and, in exceptional cases, with the concurrence of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation – not later than three days before voting day. In hard-to-reach or remote areas, on ships at sea on voting day and at polar stations electoral precincts may be formed by a territorial election commission with the concurrence of, respectively, the head of the organization located in the hard-to-reach or remote area, the captain of the ship or the ship owner, the head of the polar station.

(Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

5. Servicemen shall vote in common electoral precincts. By a decision of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation on the territory of military units stationed in isolated areas, far from population centers, electoral precincts may be formed by the commanders of the military units within the period established by Clause 2 of this article and, in exceptional cases, not later than five days before voting day.

(Clause 5 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

6. To conduct voting and count the votes of voters who reside or stay outside the territory of the Russian Federation on voting day the heads of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation shall form electoral precincts in the states where such voters are located not later than 50 days or, in exceptional cases, not later than five days before voting day. In this case, the requirement of Clause 3 of this article relating to the number of registered voters may be waived. The heads of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation shall inform the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation about the formation of electoral precincts not later than 40 days before voting day or, in exceptional cases, not later than three days before voting day.

(Clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

7. The lists of electoral precincts indicating their number and boundaries (if an electoral precinct is formed on a part of the territory of a population center) or the list of the population centers (if an electoral precinct is formed on the territory of several population centers), the location of the premises of precinct election commissions and polling stations and the telephone numbers of precinct election commissions shall be published by the head of the local administration of a municipal raion, urban okrug, inner territory of a city of federal significance and, in the cases provided for in the law of a subject of the Russian Federation – the head of the territorial body of executive power of a city of federal l significance not later than 45 days before voting day. The information about electoral precincts formed after expiration of the period mentioned in Clause 2 of this article shall be published not later than two days after their formation. In the event of the publication of the information about electoral precincts formed on the territory of military units the text of the material to be published shall be agreed with the commander of the given military unit.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

8. In the case of electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation the matters connected with the publication of the information about electoral precincts, specified in Clause 7 of this article, shall be dealt with by the heads of the relevant diplomatic or consular missions of the Russian Federation, with due regard to the local conditions. If diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation have Internet sites, such information shall be posted on these sites.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

9. If electoral precincts have not been formed within the periods specified by Clauses 2 and 4 of this article, the decision to form electoral precincts shall be taken by the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation within three days of the expiration of the periods established for the formation of electoral precincts by Clause 2 or 4 of this article.

(Clause 9 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

Article 26. Preparation of Voter Lists

1. Voter lists shall be prepared by the relevant election commissions separately for each electoral precinct in accordance with the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

2. A territorial election commission shall prepare voter lists not later than 21 days before voting day on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of the local administration of an municipal raion, urban okrug, inner territory of a city of federal significance and, in the cases provided for in the law of a subject of the Russian Federation – a city of federal significance - by the head of the territorial body of executive power of a city of federal significance, the commander of a military unit, the head of an institution where voters are temporarily staying. Should a territorial election commission (territorial election commissions) discover that a citizen of the Russian Federation is included in the voter lists in different electoral precincts, this commission (these commissions) shall correct the errors or inaccuracies in the voter lists before passing them on to precinct election commissions.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

3. The voter list for an electoral precinct formed in a hard-to-reach or remote area shall be prepared by a precinct election commission not later than 20 days before voting day and, in exceptional cases, not later than on the day of the formation of the precinct election commission, on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of the local administration of the settlement.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

4. In an electoral precinct formed on the territory of a military unit the list of voters – servicemen serving in the military unit, members of their families and other voters, if they reside within the territory of the military unit, shall be prepared by a precinct election commission not later than 20 days before voting day and, in exceptional cases, not later than on the day of the formation of the precinct election commission, on the basis of the voter data furnished by the commander of the military unit.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

5. The voter lists for electoral precincts formed in places of temporary stay of voters (hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where persons suspected of or charged with commission of a crime are held in custody and other places of temporary stay), on ships at sea on voting day or at polar stations shall be prepared by the relevant precinct election commission not later than the day preceding voting day, on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of the institution where voters are staying temporarily, the captain of the ship or the head of the polar station. The voter lists for electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clause 4, Article 25 of this Federal Law at the places of settlement of voters who have no residence registration within the Russian Federation shall be prepared on the basis of the applications filed by such voters in accordance with Clause 6, Article 27 of this Federal Law.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

6. The voter list for an electoral precinct formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation shall be prepared by the relevant precinct election commission in accordance with Clause 4, Article 27 of this Federal Law, on the basis of applications from citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside outside the territory of the Russian Federation or stay abroad for a long time on business trips.

7. The voter data shall be gathered and corrected by the officials mentioned in Clauses 2 – 5 of this article and shall be submitted by them to territorial election commissions not later than 60 days before voting day, or, if the voter list is to be prepared by a precinct election commission, to such precinct election commission immediately upon its formation. Voter data shall be gathered, corrected and submitted in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

(Clause 7 as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

8. The voter list shall be prepared in duplicate. The data of voters included in the voter list shall be arranged in the alphabetical or some other order (by population centers, streets, houses, apartments). The voter list shall indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of the voter, his year of birth (for the age of 18 years – also the day and month of birth) and residence address. Blank spaces shall be left in the voter list for the voter to write the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document and sign for receipt of the ballot; for a member of a precinct election commission who issued the ballot to the voter to put his signature; for special notes; for the summary data of each sheet of the list.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

9. The voter list may be prepared with the use of SAS "Vybory." The first original of the voter list shall be made in hard copy, the second original in soft copy. In exceptional cases, voter lists may be made in a hand-written form.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

10. The first original of the voter list prepared in accordance with the requirements of Clause 2 of this article shall be handed over to the relevant precinct election commission on the basis of a transfer certificate 20 days before voting day. The second original of the voter list in the form of soft copy shall be kept by the territorial election commission and shall be used (including for the conduct of a repeat vote) as prescribed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The voter list shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission with the indication of the signing date, and certified by the seal of the territorial commission.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

11. The voter list for electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 3 – 6 of this article shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission and certified with the commission's seal.

12. A precinct election commission may divide the first original of the voter list into separate books. Not later than the day preceding voting day, each such book shall be stitched, certified with the seal of this precinct election commission and signed by its chairman.

13. Having received the voter list a precinct election commission shall check and update the list on the basis of personal applications of citizens submitted in accordance with Article 27 of this Federal Law, the relevant documents from the bodies of local self-government, officials, registries, bodies in charge of the registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay and residence within the Russian Federation, information from the higher-level election commission about inclusion of a voter in a voter list in some other electoral precinct. Not later than the day preceding voting day a checked and updated voter list shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission and certified with the commission's seal.

14. The persons furnishing voter data shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the data and its timely submission.

Article 27. Procedure for Inclusion of Citizens In and Their Removal From Voter List s

1. All citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to an active electoral right in accordance with Article 3 of this Federal Law shall be included in the voter lists, save as otherwise provided by Clause 4 of this article.

(Clause 1 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

2. A citizen shall be included in the voter list in a concrete electoral precinct by virtue of the fact of his residence on the territory of the given electoral precinct as established by the bodies in charge of the registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay or residence within the Russian Federation in accordance with the federal law regulating the procedure for the exercise by citizens of the Russian Federation of the right to the freedom of movement, choice of the place of stay or residence within the Russian Federation.

3. Servicemen who reside outside the territory of a military unit shall be included in the voter lists at the place of their residence in accordance with the general requirements. Voters–servicemen, members of their families, other persons who reside on the territory of a military unit shall be included in the voter list by virtue of the fact of their residence on the territory of the military unit as established by the relevant service of the military unit or the bodies in charge of the registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay or residence within the Russian Federation, or on the basis of the order of the commander of the military unit whereby citizens called up for military service are put on the staff of the military unit.

4. A citizen of the Russian Federation who resides outside the territory of the Russian Federation or stays abroad for a long time on a business trip shall be included in voter lists on the basis of his written application to be submitted to the relevant election commission not later than the day preceding voting day or on the basis of an oral application made on voting day.

5. Voters – full-time students with their registered place of residence being in a hostel (at the place of location of the educational establishment) shall be included in the voter lists at the place where the hostel (educational establishment) is located. The precinct election commission of the electoral precinct, where the given voter is included in the voter list as a resident of this electoral precinct, shall be informed of this fact through a territorial election commission (if the place of residence of the voter is located within the same subject of the Russian Federation) or through the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation (if the place of residence of the voter is located within some other subject of the Russian Federation). In the corresponding line of the voter list the precinct election commission shall write “Included in the voter list in electoral precinct N” and shall indicate the number of the electoral precinct and the name of the subject of the Russian Federation.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

6. Voters staying on voting day in hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where persons suspected of or charged with commission of a crime are held in custody and other places of temporary stay shall be included in the voter list on the basis of the passport or an equivalent identity document and an absentee certificate for voting in the election of the President of the Russian Federation ("absentee certificate"). Voters at the place of temporary stay, voters who work at enterprises with a continuous operating cycle or at some jobs where the working hours (shift duration) cannot be reduced as well as servicemen who stay outside the area where their units are stationed, if they were unable to receive an absentee certificate, may be included in the voter list in the electoral precinct, where they are temporarily staying, by the decision of the given precinct election commission on the basis of a personal written application to be submitted to such precinct election commission not later than three days before voting day. The precinct election commission of the electoral precinct where this voter is included in the voter list as a resident of this electoral precinct shall be informed of this fact through a territorial election commission (if the place of residence of the voter is located within the same subject of the Russian Federation) or the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation (if the place of residence of the voter is located within some other subject of the Russian Federation). In the corresponding line of the voter list the precinct election commission shall write “Included in the voter list in electoral precinct N” and shall indicate the number of the electoral precinct and the name of the subject of the Russian Federation. By a decision of a precinct election commission voters who are not registered at the place of residence within the Russian Federation may be included in the voter list in the electoral precinct formed in accordance with Clause 4, Article 25 of this Federal Law at the place of their settlement or at the place where, by a decision of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, such voters shall vote, on the basis of a personal written application to be submitted to the precinct election commission not later than on voting day.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

7. Citizens of the Russian Federation who have been granted the status of forced migrants or have applied for the status of forced migrants to the federal body of executive power in charge of migration issues or to the territorial agencies of this body shall be included in the voter list at the place of their temporary residence on the basis of the passport or an equivalent identity document and the relevant documents issued by these authorities.

8. Citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to an active electoral right and are staying abroad at private invitations, on official and business trips and as tourists shall be included in the voter list on the basis the passport or an equivalent identity document and an absentee certificate when they come to the premises of a precinct election commission. Such citizens, who were unable to receive an absentee certificate, shall be included in the voter list by a precinct election commission on the basis of an oral application on voting day.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 4, 2007)

9. Citizens of the Russian Federation who were registered at the place of residence within the territory of an electoral precinct after the voter list was made available to voters for inspection, as well as voters who were not included in the voter list for any other reason shall be additionally put on the voter list by a precinct election commission on the basis of the passport or an equivalent identity document and, if necessary, the documents confirming that the voter's place of residence (or, in the absence of any place of residence within the Russian Federation – the place of temporary stay) is located on the territory of the given electoral precinct.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

10. A voter may be included in a voter list only in one electoral precinct.

11. After the voter list has been signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission (in the case provided for in Clause 11, Article 26 of this Federal Law – by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission) and certified by the commission’s seal, a citizen of the Russian Federation may be removed from the voter list only on the basis of official documents, including a notification of the higher-level territorial commission that the voter has been put on the voter list in some other electoral precinct, or when an absentee certificate is issued to the voter in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Federal Law. In this case, the date when the citizen was removed from the voter list and the reasons therefor shall be noted down in the voter list. This note shall be certified by the signature of the chairman of a precinct election commission and, when an absentee certificate is issued, by the signature of the member of the election commission who issued the absentee certificate.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

12. No changes shall be made in voter lists after the end of voting and commencement of vote counting.

Article 28. Inspection of Voter Lists by Voters

1. A precinct election commission shall make voter lists available to voters for inspection and additional correction 20 days before voting day and, in cases where the voter list is prepared later than this deadline as provided by Clauses 3 – 5, Article 26 of this Federal Law, immediately after the preparation of the voter list.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 93–FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007)

2. A citizen of the Russian Federation entitled to an active electoral right may state to a precinct election commission that he has not been put on the voter list or inform it about all errors and inaccuracies in his data entered in the voter list. Within 24 hours and, on voting day, within two hours of receipt of such statement and not later than the time when voting ends, the precinct election commission shall check the statement and the submitted documents and shall either correct the error or inaccuracy or take a decision to decline the statement indicating the reasons why the statement was declined, and shall issue the voter with a certified copy of this decision.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

3. The decision of a precinct election commission to decline the statement mentioned in Clause 2 of this article may be appealed to the higher-level election commission or to a court (at the place of location of the precinct election commission) and these bodies must consider the appeal within three days or immediately, if the appeal was filed three and less days before or on voting day. If the appeal is granted, the precinct election commission shall immediately make the necessary corrections in the voter list.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)

4. Each citizen of the Russian Federation may inform a precinct election commission of changes in the voter data entered in the voter list in accordance with Clause 8, Article 26 of this Federal law.