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Chapter IX. VOTING AND DETERMINATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Article 66. Polling Station 1. The polling station shall be placed at the disposal of a precinct election commission at no charge by the head of the local administration of the municipality and, in the cases provided for in this Federal Law, by the commander of a military unit, ship captain, head of a polar station, head of a diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. The polling station shall have a hall to set up ballot boxes, booths or other specially equipped places for secret voting, provided with a lighting system and writing utensils (with the exception of pencils). 3. Inside or directly in front of the polling station a precinct election commission shall set up a bulletin board (bulletin boards) for displaying the following information about all candidates listed in the ballot: 1) the biographical data of the candidates within the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, which shall not be smaller than the scope of the biographical data indicated in the ballot; 2) if the candidate is nominated by a political party – the words "nominated by a political party" and the name of this political party; (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 3) for the self–nominated candidate – the word "self-nominated"; 4) if the candidate has been registered on the basis of voter signatures – the words "registered on the basis of voter signatures"; 5) information about the income and property of the candidates and their spouses within the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation; 6) information (if any) about the inaccuracy of the data presented by the candidates under Sub-Clause 3 of Clause 6 and Clause 7, Article 34; Sub-Clauses 1 and 3 of Clause 11, Article 35 of this Federal Law; 7) information from the financial reports of the political parties which nominated registered candidates and information about verification of these reports, within the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. If a registered candidate has an unexpunged and unexpired record of conviction – this fact shall be indicated in the information materials posted on the bulletin board; (as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 5. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 128–FZ of July 25, 2006. 6. The bulletin board shall display a sample of a marked ballot which shall not contain the names of registered candidates, names of political parties which registered candidates in this election of the President of the Russian Federation (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005). 7. Information about registered candidates shall be arranged in the order which was determined when the form and the text of a ballot were approved. 8. The materials displayed on the bulletin board shall be free from any election propaganda . 9. The bulletin board shall display excerpts from the criminal and administrative laws of the Russian Federation establishing responsibility for violation of the electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation. A precinct election commission shall place these materials so that voters could easily read them. 10. An enlarged form of the protocol on vote returns shall be displayed at the polling station to record vote returns as they are determined. The enlarged form of the protocol shall be posted before the commencement of voting, in plain view of the members of a precinct election commission and observers, at a distance at which they can read the information contained therein. The enlarged form of the protocol shall not substitute for the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission and the data entered therein shall have no legal significance. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. Inside the polling station there shall be stationary ballot boxes. The functions of stationary ballot boxes may be performed by vote-counting machines, including software–hardware complexes for ballot processing. Voting may also be conducted by the use of e-voting systems. Vote-counting machines and e-voting systems shall be used in accordance with the procedure established by the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum," as prescribed by the instructions approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 12. The polling station shall be fitted out so that the places where ballots are issued, places for secret voting and ballot boxes are all located in plain view of the members of a precinct election commission and observers. Article 67. Ballot 1. The rules for the production and delivery of ballots and the rules for controlling their production and delivery shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 32 days before voting day. The quantity of ballots shall not exceed the number of registered voters by more than 1.5 percent. (Clause 1 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. The form and the Russian text of the ballot shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 24 days before voting day. The text shall be printed only on one side of the ballot. In the event of a repeat vote the quantity of ballots shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation when it adopts a decision on the conduct of the repeat vote. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. To prevent forgery of ballots they shall be printed on paper with water marks or paper with printed micro-inscriptions and protective grid, or a special sign (mark) shall be used for this purpose. The rules for the production and use of special signs (marks), their quantity and the requirements to the delivery of the special signs (marks) from the higher-level to the lower-level election commissions shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 60 days before voting day. (Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. In the ballot the surnames of registered candidates shall be listed in an alphabetical order. The ballot shall contain the following information about each registered candidate: 1) the surname, first name and patronymic; 2) the year of birth; 3) the name of the subject of the Russian Federation, raion, city, other population center where the place of residence of the candidate is located; (Sub–Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4) the main place of work or service, position (occupation, if there is no main place of work or service). If the candidate is a deputy and exercises his powers on a non-permanent basis – this fact and the name of the representative body on which he serves; 5) if the candidate is nominated by a political party – the words "nominated by a political party and the name of the political party; (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 6) if the candidate is self–nominated – the word "self-nominated"; 7) if the candidate has been registered on the basis of voter signatures – the words "registered on the basis of voter signatures"; 8) if the candidate indicated his membership in a political party or some other public association in accordance with Clause 8, Article 34 or Sub–Clause 1, Clause 11, Article 35 of this Federal Law – the short name of this political party, this public association and the status of the candidate in this political party, this public association; (Sub–Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. A blank box shall be placed to the right of the data of each candidate. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 5.1. If, in accordance with Clause 5, Article 77 of this Federal Law, the voting is conducted on one candidature, voting options "For" and "Against" shall be indicated under the data of the registered candidate and blank boxes shall be placed to the right of these words. (Sub–Clause 5.1 was added by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 6. If a candidate has an unexpunged and unexpired record of conviction, the information about the candidate's record of conviction shall be indicated in the ballot. Such information shall be entered in the ballot on the basis of the relevant documents submitted to an election commission before the text of the ballot is approved. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 128–FZ of July 25, 2006, Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 7. Each ballot shall contain marking instructions. 8. Ballots shall be printed in the Russian language. By a decision of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation ballots shall be printed in the Russian language and in the official language of a republic comprised in the Russian Federation and, in the necessary cases, in the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation on the territories on their compact settlement. If ballots for an electoral precinct are printed in two or more languages, the Russian text shall be printed on each ballot. The text of such ballot in the official language of a republic comprised in the Russian Federation and in the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation shall be approved by the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation not later than 22 days before voting day (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9. The quantity of ballots shall be determined by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 24 days before voting day. Ballots shall be produced in two stages: 1) to provide for early voting, voting in electoral precincts formed in hard-to-reach and remote areas and voting in electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation – not later than 20 days before voting day. To provide for early voting ballots shall be produced by a decision of the election commissions of the relevant subjects of the Russian Federation in a quantity to be determined by them within the quantity of ballots determined for these subjects of the Russian Federation by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation; ballots for voting in electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation shall be produced by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in the quantity determined by it. 2) to provide for voting on voting day – not later than 10 days before voting day by a decision of the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, in the quantity determined by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for the subjects of the Russian Federation minus the quantity of ballots produced earlier for early voting and voting in electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation. (Clause 9 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 10. The ballots produced by a printing organization shall be handed over, on the basis of a certificate, to members of the election commission which placed an order for their production. The certificate shall indicate the date and time when it was executed and the quantity of the ballots being handed over. After the ballots packed in bundles are handed over in the quantity corresponding to the order, the personnel of the printing organization shall destroy surplus ballots (if any) and shall execute a certificate to this effect. Not later than two days before the receipt of ballots from the printing organization, the election commission which placed an order for their production shall decide when and where ballots are to be handed over to members of this election commission and surplus ballots are to be destroyed. Any member of this election commission, a registered candidate (his agent) may put his signature on the certificates mentioned in this clause. (Clause 10 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. Ballots shall be delivered to territorial election commissions within the time established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Based on their decisions on the distribution of ballots between territorial election commissions the higher–level election commissions shall hand over to territorial election commissions the entire quantity of ballots received by them from the printing organization. On the basis of a decision of a territorial election commission on the distribution of ballots precinct election commission shall receive ballots from the territorial election commission not later than one day before voting day (early voting day) . For each electoral precinct the quantity of ballots to be delivered to a precinct election commission shall not exceed the number of voters registered in this electoral precinct by more than 0.5 percent (but by not less than two ballots) and shall equal not less than 70 percent of the number of voters included in the voter list in the electoral precinct as of the day on which ballots are handed over. In an electoral precinct where a large number of voters are expected to vote on the basis of absentee certificates the quantity of ballots may be increased subject to a decision of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation. Precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation or territorial election commissions formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law may be supplied with ballots directly by the election commission which placed an order for their production, in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, in the quantity determined on the basis of the data of the registration of voters, referendum participants. When ballots are handed over to precinct election commissions they shall be re–counted and defective ballots shall be discarded. Defective ballots (if any) shall be destroyed by members of a territorial election commission and a certificate shall be executed to this effect. (Clause 11 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 12. Signatures of two voting members of a precinct election commission certified by the commission's seal shall be put at the upper right on the face of all ballots received by the precinct election commission. The ballots which are not certified in this manner shall be treated as ballots of improper form and shall not be reckoned in when votes are counted. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 13. A certificate shall be executed in duplicate to confirm the delivery of ballots from a higher-level to a lower-level election commission. This certificate shall indicate the date and time of its execution, the quantity of the delivered ballots. The delivery of ballots from a higher-level to a lower-level election commission, rejection and disposal of defective ballots (if any) may be witnessed by members of these election commissions and registered candidates whose data is entered in the ballot. These election commissions shall notify its members and the said registered candidates about the time and place when and where the ballots are to be delivered and shall allow not less than one agent of each registered candidate to witness such delivery. Each of the aforementioned persons may put his signature on the certificates executed to confirm the delivery, rejection and disposal of defective ballots (if any). (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 14. The responsibility for the delivery and safekeeping of ballots shall be borne by the chairmen of election commissions which deliver, accept and keep the ballots. 15. In the event that the registration of some candidates is cancelled or annulled after the ballots have been printed, territorial and precinct election commissions shall, on the instruction of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, strike out the data of such registered candidates on ballots. If the data of a registered candidate indicated in printed ballots has to be changed and supplemented, members of a territorial election commission, precinct election commission may, subject to a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, make the necessary changes in the ballots by hand or with the use of technical means. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 16. If a candidate was registered less than ten days before voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may allow the data of this registered candidate to be entered in printed ballots by hand or with the use of technical means. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 17. In exceptional cases, in electoral precincts formed in remote and hard-to-reach areas, on ships at sea on voting day, at polar stations, in electoral precincts established outside the territory of the Russian Federation electoral documentation, including ballots, may be printed by a precinct election commission itself, if the necessary technical facilities are available. A decision to print the electoral documentation, indicating the necessary quantity of ballots and the deadline for their production, shall be taken by such precinct election commission with the concurrence of a relevant territorial election commission or the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 18. On voting day, after the voting time ends, a territorial election commission shall count and cancel unused ballots which remain in the territorial election commission and shall execute a certificate to this effect. The persons indicated in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law may be present when ballots are being cancelled. Cancelled ballots shall be sealed and kept together with the other documents of this election commission by the secretary of the election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 19. In the event of a repeat vote the periods indicated in this article may be reduced by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, but by not more than by three times. Article 68. Absentee Certificate 1. The absentee certificate shall be a document subject to strict accountability. The absentee certificate shall have a detachable stub. The form of the absentee certificate and the procedure for its production and use, the quantity of absentee certificates and the form of a register of issued absentee certificates as well as the requirements to the delivery of absentee certificates by a higher-level to a lower-level election commissions shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 60 days before voting day. The absentee certificate shall have blank spaces for entering the surname, first name and patronymic of the voter and the number of the electoral precinct where the voter is included in the voter list at the place of residence. The order for production of absentee certificates shall be placed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the basis of its decision. Absentee certificates shall be delivered from higher-level to lower-level election commissions on the basis of the decision of the higher-level election commission on the distribution of absentee certificates between lower-level election commissions, in accordance with the procedure established for the delivery of ballots. The responsibility for the delivery and safekeeping of absentee certificates shall be borne by the chairmen of election commissions which deliver, accept and keep absentee certificates. (Clause 1 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. A voter unable, on voting day, to come to the polling station of an electoral precinct where he is included in the voter list may receive an absentee certificate (in the event of a repeat vote – an absentee certificate without a detachable stub) from the appropriate territorial election commission (45 - 25 days before voting day) or a precinct commission (19 and less days before voting day and also in the period from the day on which the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation announces a repeat vote up to the day preceding the day of the repeat vote) and take part in the voting in the electoral precinct where he will be staying on voting day. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. On the basis of a written application of a voter indicating the reasons why he needs an absentee certificate the relevant election commission shall issue an absentee certificate either to the voter personally or to his representative under a notarized power of attorney. A power of attorney may also be certified by the administration of a hospital (if a voter is undergoing medical treatment at this hospital), by the administration of an institution where persons suspected of or charged with commission of a crime are kept in custody (if a voter is held in this institution as a person suspected of or charged with commission of a crime). 4. A territorial election commission shall issue absentee certificates to voters or their representatives on the basis of the information about voters submitted to the territorial election commission by the head of the local administration of a municipal raion, city 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 or a city of federal significance, by the head of the territorial body of executive power of a city of federal significance, in accordance with Clause 7, Article 26 of this Federal Law. A territorial election commission shall keep a register of issued absentee certificates indicating the surname, first name and patronymic, year of birth of the voter (for voters 18 years of age – also the day and month of birth), his residence address. Twenty days before voting day, together with the first copy of the voter list a territorial election commission shall furnish to precinct election commissions certified excerpts from the register of issued absentee certificates indicating the data of voters registered in the territory of these electoral precincts, who received absentee certificates. Based on such excerpts precinct election commissions shall make appropriate notes in the voter list and shall remove voters from the voter list as provided by Clause 5 of this article. (as amended by Federal Law Nos. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005), No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 5. A voter or his representative shall sign for receipt of an absentee certificate in the register of issued absentee certificates (in a territorial election commission) or in the voter list (in a precinct election commission), indicating the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document. After this, the voter shall be removed from the voter list of the given electoral precinct and shall not be reckoned in when the precinct election commission counts the number of registered voters to prepare its protocol on vote returns. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 6. An absentee certificate shall be valid if it shows the surname, first name and patronymic of a voter and the number of the electoral precinct where the voter is included in the voter list at his place of residence and if it bears two imprints of the seal of a territorial or a precinct election commission and two signatures of the member of the territorial or the precinct election commission who issued the absentee certificate, one such imprint and one such signature being affixed to the detachable stub. In the event of a repeat vote an absentee certificate shall be valid if it shows the surname, first name and patronymic of a voter and the number of the electoral precinct where the voter is included in the voter list at his place of residence and if it bears the seal of a territorial or a precinct election commission and the signature of the member of the territorial or the precinct election commission who issued the absentee certificate. 7. On voting day, upon presentation of an absentee certificate, a voter may be put on the voter list in any other electoral precinct. When voting is conducted in the general election of the President of the Russian Federation, the detachable stub shall be removed from an absentee certificate presented by a voter; in the event of a repeat vote the absentee certificate itself shall be withdrawn. When receiving a ballot on the basis of an absentee certificate a voter shall indicate his residence address in the voter list. 8. In the event of a repeat vote unused detachable stubs of absentee certificates, which were issued to voters in the period from the day on which the repeat vote was announced by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to the day preceding the day of the repeat vote, shall be cancelled. On the day of a repeat vote, before voting time begins, unused absentee certificates together with detachable stubs shall be cancelled. A relevant territorial or precinct election commission shall execute a protocol to certify cancellation of unused detachable stubs and absentee certificates indicating the quantity of such stubs and certificates. If the President of the Russian Federation was elected as a result of the general election or the general election of the President of the Russian Federation was declared not to have taken place or to be null and void, unused absentee certificates together with detachable stubs shall be cancelled by an election commission on the third day after the official publication of the results of the general election of the President of the Russian Federation. Article 69. Voting 1. Voting shall be conducted from 8:00 to 20:00 local time. If the working hours of voters residing on the territory of an electoral precinct coincide with the voting time (enterprises with a continuous operating cycle, work on a rotational basis), the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation may put forward the commencement of voting in this electoral precinct, but by not more than two hours. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. Territorial and precinct election commissions shall inform voters about the date, time and place of voting not later than 20 days before voting day through the mass media or by other means or, in the event of early voting conducted in accordance with Article 70 of this Federal Law, not later than five days before the day of early voting. 3. A precinct election commission, formed in electoral precincts established on ships at sea, in military units, at polar stations, in remote and hard-to-reach area, may declare the voting completed ahead of the time specified in Clause 1 of this article if all the voters included in the voter list have voted. 4. On voting day, before commencement of voting, the chairman of a precinct election commission shall declare the polling station open and shall invite the members of the precinct election commission, voters present at the polling station and persons indicated in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law to examine empty stationary and mobile ballot boxes. Then the ballot boxes shall be sealed by the seal of the precinct election commission. The chairman of the precinct election commission shall also show to the said persons sealed mobile ballot boxes containing ballots marked in accordance with Clauses s 2 – 9, Article 70 of this Federal Law by early voters (if any). (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Voting members of a precinct election commission shall receive ballots from the chairman of the precinct election commission for issuance to voters and shall sign for their receipt. Then the chairman of the precinct election commission shall invite voters to start voting. 6. Ballots shall be issued to voters included in the voter lists upon presentation of the passport or an equivalent identity paper and an absentee certificate if a voter votes on the basis of an absentee certificate. Each voter shall be entitled to receive one ballot, save the cases provided for in Clause 11 of this article. Before issuing a ballot to a voter the member of a precinct election commission shall make sure that the voter has not voted early, no written application (or oral request) from the voter for voting outside the polling station is recorded in the journal mentioned in Clause 2, Article 71 of this Federal Law and no voting members of the precinct election commission have been sent to the voter to conduct voting outside the polling station. 7. When receiving a ballot, the voter shall write the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document in the voter list. With the consent or upon the request of the voter this data may be written in the voter list by a voting member of a precinct election commission. Subject to an appropriate decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document may be entered in the voter list with the use of SAS “Vybory” during preparation of the voter list. The voter shall check the correctness of the entry and shall sign for receipt of a ballot. The member of the election commission who issued a ballot shall also put his signature in the corresponding column of the voter list. If the voter votes on the basis of an absentee certificate, a corresponding note shall be made in the voter list. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8. A voter shall vote by putting any mark in the box corresponding to the candidate chosen by the voter or, in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, to the voting options "For" and "Against." (Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 9. Each voter shall vote in person. Voting for other voters shall not be allowed. Ballots shall be marked in a booth or some other place specially fitted out for secret voting, where the presence of other persons shall not be allowed, save as otherwise provided by Clause 10 of this article. (as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 10. A voter who is not able to sign for receipt of a ballot or mark the ballot by himself may be assisted by another voter who is not a member of any election commission and is not a registered candidate, his agent or authorized representative for financial matters, an authorized representative or agent of a political party which nominated a registered candidate, an observer, a foreign (international) observer. Such voter shall orally inform the election commission of his intention to ask another person to assist him. In this case, the surname, first name and patronymic, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document of the person assisting such voter shall be entered in the appropriate column (columns) of the voter list. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. If a voter thinks that he has made a mistake when marking the ballot, he may ask the voting member of the precinct election commission who issued the ballot to give him a new ballot in place of the spoiled one. The election commission member shall issue a new ballot to the voter, note this fact in the voter list beside the name of this voter and sign the note. On the spoiled ballot the voting member of the precinct election commission shall make a relevant note and shall sign the note. This note shall also be signed by the secretary of the precinct election commission, after which the ballot shall be immediately cancelled. (as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 12. Voters shall drop marked ballots into a sealed stationary ballot box. 13. The chairman of a precinct election commission shall maintain order in the polling station. Instructions of the chairman of a precinct election commission issued within the scope of his competence shall be mandatory for all persons present inside the polling station. If the chairman of a precinct election commission is absent, his functions shall be performed by the deputy chairman of the precinct election commission, and, in the absence of the deputy chairman, by the secretary of the precinct election commission or some other voting member of the given election commission appointed by the commission. 14. Persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law may be present at the polling station during the voting, when votes are being counted and when a precinct election commission is preparing a protocol on vote returns. A precinct election commission shall make up a list of the persons who are observing the progress of voting and the counting of votes, such list being based on the credentials presented by these persons. 15. Any member of a precinct election commission shall be immediately barred from participation in the commission's work and an observer and other persons shall be expelled from the polling station if they violate the laws on the election of the President of the Russian Federation. In such cases, an appropriate reasoned decision shall be taken by a precinct election commission or a higher-level election commission. The law enforcement authorities shall enforce the said decision and take steps to bring to responsibility the barred member of a precinct election commission, expelled observer and other persons under the Russian Federation laws. 16. Registered candidates, their agents and authorized representatives for financial matters, political parties which nominated registered candidates, their agents and authorized representatives as well as the organizations, which are founded, owned, possessed by the said persons and/or organizations which have governing bodies where the said persons and organizations are members, other natural persons and legal entities acting upon the request or on the instructions of the said persons and political parties shall not make any arrangements for transportation of voters to polling stations for participation in voting. (Clause 16 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 70. Early Voting 1. The election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation may allow all voters in one of or several electoral precincts in remote and hard-to-reach and remote areas, on ships at sea on voting day, at polar stations to vote early, but not earlier than 15 days before voting day. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may allow all voters in one of or several electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation to vote early, but not earlier than 15 days before voting day. In this case, early voting shall be conducted in accordance with the rules established by Article 69 of this Federal Law. Immediately after the end of early voting votes cast by voters shall be counted and vote returns shall be determined in accordance with the requirements set forth in Article 72 and 73 of this Federal Law. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. If separate groups of voters included in the voter list of an electoral precinct remain at places which are far away from the polling station and which are inaccessible or hard to reach by any means of transport (in hard-to-reach and remote areas, at polar stations and other similar localities) and, therefore, early voting cannot be conducted in the whole electoral precinct in accordance with Clause 1 of this article, the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation may allow these groups of voters to vote early, but not earlier than 15 days before voting day, in the course of several days, in accordance with the procedure established by Clauses 3 – 9 of this article. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may allow groups of voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation to vote early, but not earlier than 15 days before voting day, in the course of several days, in accordance with the procedure established by Clauses 3 – 9 of this article. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. To conduct early voting in accordance with Clause 2 of this article use shall be made of mobile ballot boxes the number of which shall be determined by the relevant precinct election commission. Before early voting starts, empty mobile ballot boxes shall be produced for examination on the premises of an election commission to the majority of its members and to the persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law present, and a protocol shall executed to record this fact. After that, empty mobile ballot boxes shall be sealed (seals shall be affixed). 4. Two voting members of a precinct election commission shall put their signatures at the upper right on the face of each ballot issued to a voter who votes early, and their signatures shall be certified by the seal of the precinct election commission. 5. Early voting outside the polling station shall be conducted by not less than two voting members of a precinct election commission. They shall be provided with a mobile ballot box sealed at the precinct election commission, the required number of standard ballots, an excerpt from the voter list, containing data of the voters whom they are going to visit to conduct early voting, or the voter list as well as the necessary writing utensils (excepting pencils) to mark ballots. 6. An early voter shall sign for each ballot issued to him in the excerpt from the voter list or in the voter list. Members of a precinct election commission who conduct early voting shall make a note in the said excerpt or the said voter list to indicate that the voter voted early and shall write the date and time of voting. If a voter put his signature in the excerpt from the voter list, these notes as well as the series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document shall be entered in the voter list after the end of early voting. The excerpt from the voter list shall be kept together with the voter list. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. A voter shall mark the ballot and drop it into the mobile ballot box as provided by Article 69 of this Federal Law. 8. A protocol shall be executed to record the fact of early voting, indicating the day and time of voting, the number of voters who received ballots for early voting, the names of election commission members and other persons present at the voting. This protocol shall be kept together with the mobile ballot box. 9. After the end of early voting the slots for ballots in mobile ballot boxes shall be sealed by the chairman of a precinct election commission. The secretary of a precinct election commission shall make arrangements for safekeeping of the mobile ballot boxes. The mobile ballot boxes shall not be opened till commencement of vote counting at the polling station. The mobile ballot boxes with the ballots of voters who voted early shall not be used for voting on voting day. 10. Early voting may be observed by the persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. When early voting is to be conducted with the use of mobile ballot boxes, a precinct election commission shall make arrangements to ensure that at least two persons – non–voting members of the election commission, observers appointed by different registered candidates – are offered the same possibilities as voting members of the precinct election commission to go to the place where early voting is to be conducted. 11. Early voting may be conducted only at the time appointed by the decision of a precinct election commission. This time shall be made known to voters and persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law through the mass media and/or by other means. 12. When conducting early voting a precinct election commission shall ensure the secrecy of voting, prevent any possibility of the expression of the voters' will being distorted, make arrangements for the safekeeping of ballots and ensure that the votes of voters are reckoned in when the vote returns are determined. Article 71. Voting Outside the Polling Station On Voting Day 1. A precinct election commission shall make proper arrangements to enable voters to vote if they are entitled to be on, or are included in, the voter list in the given electoral precinct but are unable to come to the polling station for valid reasons (poor health, physical disability). A precinct election commission shall also make voting arrangements for voters who are included in the voter list of the given electoral precinct but are kept in places of confinement of persons suspected of or charged with commission of crimes. (as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 2. Save as otherwise provided by Article 70 of this Federal Law voting outside the polling station shall be carried out only on voting day and only on the basis of a written application or an oral request of a voter (which may be relayed through other persons) for a possibility to vote outside the polling station. The application (request) may be submitted by a voter at any time after formation of a precinct election commission. A precinct election commission shall record all received applications (requests) in a special journal which shall be kept together with the voter list after the end of voting. 3. The entry recording an oral request in the journal mentioned in Clause 2 of this article shall indicate the time when the request was received; the surname, first name and patronymic of the voter who stated his desire to vote outside the polling station; the voter's place of residence. The entry shall be signed by the member of a precinct election commission who received the request (telephone call, message, etc.). If the request was relayed by another person, the surname, first name and patronymic and the place of residence of this person shall be indicated in the journal. Upon arrival of members of a precinct election commission to the voter, the oral request shall be confirmed by a written application. 4. A written application (oral request) of a voter for voting outside the polling station must state the reason why the voter is unable to come to the polling station. The application shall indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of the voter and his residence address. A precinct election commission may, at its meeting, decide that the reason why a voter is unable to come to the polling station unaided is untenable and, on this basis, refuse to allow the voter to vote outside the polling station. The election commission shall immediately inform the voter of its decision to refuse to conduct such voting. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Applications (requests) mentioned in Clause 2 of this article may be submitted to a precinct election commission not later than four hours before the end of voting time. 6. At least 30 minutes before the departure of members of a precinct election commission, the chairman of the precinct election commission shall announce that members of the precinct election commission are going to conduct voting outside the polling station. 7. A precinct election commission shall have the necessary number of mobile ballot boxes to conduct voting in accordance with this article. The number of such boxes shall be determined by a decision of the precinct election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8. The voting members of a precinct election commission who conduct voting outside the polling station shall receive ballots and sign for the receipt of the ballots in the journal of issuance of ballots for voting outside the polling station. Voting outside the polling station shall be conducted by not less than two voting members of a precinct election commission, who shall bring with them the following: a mobile ballot box sealed at the precinct election commission; the required number of standard ballots; the journal mentioned in Clause 2 of this article or a certified excerpt from the journal containing the required voter data and a note concerning the applications (requests) received from voters asking for a possibility to vote outside the polling station; written applications received from voters asking for a possibility to vote outside the polling station; the necessary writing utensils (excepting pencils) for the voter to mark the ballot. Voting outside the polling station may be conducted by one voting member of a precinct election commission, provided that not less than two persons from among the persons mentioned in Clause 13 of this article are present at the voting. 9. Voting outside the polling station shall be carried out in compliance with the requirements of Article 69 of this Federal Law. 10. On the written application for voting outside the polling station a voter shall indicate the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document and his residence address and shall sign for receipt of the ballot. With the consent or upon the request of a voter the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document may be written on the application by a voting member of the precinct election commission. Voting members of the precinct election commission shall confirm the issuance of a ballot by putting their signatures on the written application of the voter. A corresponding note shall be made on the application when a new ballot is issued in place of a spoiled one. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 11. The voting members of a precinct election commission who conduct voting outside the polling station shall issue ballots only to those voters whose applications (requests) have been recorded in the journal in accordance with Clause 2 of this article. 12. The series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document of a voter who voted outside the polling station shall be entered in the voter list by the voting members of a precinct election commission who went to voters in response to their applications (requests). At the same time, the following note shall be made in the relevant column(s) of the voter list: "Voted outside the polling station," and this note shall be signed by the aforementioned members of the precinct election commission (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 13. Voting outside the polling station may be observed by non-voting members of an election commission, observers. In this case, a precinct election commission shall provide the same possibilities to come to the place of voting both to the voting members of the precinct election commission who conduct voting outside the polling station and to not less than two non-voting members of the election commission and observers appointed by different registered candidates. Voting outside the polling station shall be organized so as to prevent any violations of electoral rights of citizens and distortion of the expression of voters’ will. 14. If a voter who submitted an application (request) for voting outside the polling station comes to the polling station to vote after the voting members of a precinct election commission were sent to him to conduct voting outside the polling station, none of the members of the precinct election commission shall issue a ballot to this voter at the polling station until the members of the precinct election commission who went to the voter in response to his application (request) to conduct voting outside the polling station come back and until it is established that the voter did not vote outside the polling station. 15. After the end of voting outside the polling station, a precinct election commission shall execute an act indicating the number of ballots issued to the voting members of the precinct election commission who conducted voting outside the polling station; the number of written applications from voters asking for a possibility to vote outside the polling station; the number of ballots issued to such voters and the number of returned ballots (ballots which were not used or were spoiled by voters); the information about the voting members of the precinct election commission who conducted voting outside the polling station and about the non-voting members of the precinct election commission and observers who were present at voting outside the polling station conducted with the use of each mobile ballot box. Article 72. Protocol on Vote Returns of Precinct Election Commission s 1. A precinct election shall deliver its decision on vote returns in the form of a protocol on vote returns for the given electoral precinct. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. The protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission shall be drawn up on one sheet. In exceptional cases the protocol may consist of more sheets than one and each sheet of such protocol shall be numbered, signed by all present voting members of the precinct election commission and certified by the commission's seal. The protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission shall contain the following: : 1) No. of the original; 2) the name of the election, date of voting; 3) the word "Protocol"; 4) the address of the polling station and the number of the electoral precinct; Sub–Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 5) the subsequent lines of the protocol: line 1: the number of voters included in the voter list as of the end of voting; line 2: the number of ballots received by the precinct election commission; line 3: the number of ballots issued to voters who voted early in accordance with Clauses 2 – 9, Article 70 of this Federal Law; line 4: the number of ballots issued to voters by the precinct election commission at the polling station on voting day; line 5: the number of ballots issued to voters who voted outside the polling station on voting day; line 6: the number of cancelled ballots; line 7: the number of ballots in the mobile ballot boxes; line 8: the number of ballots in the stationary ballot boxes; line 9: the number of invalid ballots; line 10: the number of valid ballots; line 11: the number of absentee certificates received by the precinct election commission; line 12: the number of absentee certificates issued to voters of the given electoral precinct by the precinct election commission before voting day (in the event of a repeat vote – the number of absentee certificates without detachable stubs issued to voters of the given electoral precinct by the precinct election commission before the day of a repeat vote); line 13: the number of voters who voted in the electoral precinct on the basis of absentee certificates; line 14: the number of unused absentee certificates (in the event of a repeat vote – the number of cancelled unused absentee certificates); line 15: the number of absentee certificates issued to voters by the territorial election commission); line 16: the number of lost ballots; (the paragraph was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) line 17: the number of ballots unrecorded when received; (the paragraph was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 6) the information about the number of complaints (grievances) appended to the protocol, which were received by the precinct election commission on voting day and before the end of vote counting; (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7) the surnames and initials of the chairman, the deputy chairman, the secretary and the other voting members of the election commission and their signatures (if the protocol consists of more than one sheet – on each sheet of the protocol); (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8) the date and time (hours, minutes) when the protocol was signed (if the protocol contains more than one sheet – on each sheet of the protocol); 9) the seal of the election commission (if the protocol contains more than one sheet – on each sheet of the protocol). 3. The following shall be entered in line 18 and the subsequent lines of the protocol on vote returns: the surname, first name and patronymic of the registered candidates appearing the ballot, in the alphabetical order, and, if these names coincide, other data of the registered candidates; the number of votes cast for each registered candidate; in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, the number of votes cast for the voting option "Against"; (as amended by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 4. Repealed. – Federal No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 5. The numbers indicated in Clauses 2 and 3 of this article shall be entered in the protocol on vote returns in digits and in words. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 73. Counting of Votes and Preparation of the Protocol on Vote Returns of Precinct Election Commission s 1. Vote counting shall be open and transparent, with all results of vote counting and ballot counting carried out by the voting members of a precinct election commission being consecutively announced and entered in the enlarged form of the protocol on vote returns. The persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law shall be allowed to be present at and to observe vote counting. 2. After the voting time ends, the chairman of a precinct election commission shall announce that only those voters who are already inside the polling station may receive ballots and vote. Counting of votes shall begin immediately after the voting ends and shall be continued without interruption until the vote returns are determined. These vote returns shall be made known to all members of the precinct election commission and persons allowed to be present at vote counting in accordance with this Federal Law. 3. After the end of the voting time, the voting members of a precinct election commission in the presence of the persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law shall count unused ballots, cancel them by cutting off the lower left corner of such ballots, announce the number of cancelled ballots, obtained by summing up the number of unused ballots and the number of ballots spoiled by voters in the course of voting, and enter the number of cancelled ballots in line 6 of the protocol on vote returns and in the enlarged form of this protocol. After that, the members of the precinct election commission shall count and announce the number of unused absentee certificates (in the event of a repeat vote – announce the number of cancelled unused absentee certificates indicated in the protocol executed in accordance with Clause 8, Article 68 of this Federal Law) and enter this number in line 14 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form. The cancelled ballots, stubs and absentee certificates may be examined by the persons present at vote counting in accordance with Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law, under the supervision of voting members of the precinct election commission. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 4. The chairman, the deputy chairman or the secretary of a precinct election commission shall announce the number of ballots received by the precinct election commission and enter this number in line 2 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form and also announce the number of absentee certificates received by the precinct election commission and enter this number in line 11 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form. 5. Before starting to count votes the voting members of a precinct election commission shall sum up the following data on each sheet of the voter list and mark the results of the summation on each given sheet: 1) the number of voters included in the voter list as of the end of voting (minus the voters to whom absentee certificates were issued by the territorial election commission and the precinct election commission and voters withdrawn for other reasons); 2) the number of ballots issued to voters at the polling station on voting day (to be established on the basis of the number of voter signatures in the voter list); 3) the number of ballots issued to voters who voted outside the polling station (to be established on the basis of the number of the relevant notes in the voter list); 4) the number of voters who voted early in accordance with Clauses 2 – 9, Article 70 of this Federal Law (to be established on the basis of the number of the relevant notes in the voter list); 5) the number of absentee certificates issued by the precinct election commission to voters at the polling station before voting day; 6) the number of voters who voted at the polling station of the electoral precinct on the basis of absentee certificates; 7) the number of absentee certificates issued to voters by the territorial election commission. 6. After entering the data mentioned in Clause 5 of this article the voting member of a precinct election commission who entered this data shall sign each sheet of the voter list, sum up this data, announce the results of the summation and present them to the chairman, the deputy chairman or the secretary of the precinct election commission and to persons present at vote counting. The chairman, the deputy chairman or the secretary of the precinct election commission shall announce the summarized data, i.e., the sum total of the data determined in accordance with Clause 5 of this article, write the summarized data on the last sheet of the voter list, sign this data and certify it with the seal of the precinct election commission. The announced data shall be entered in the relevant lines of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form: 1) in line 1: the number of voters included in the voter list as of the end of voting; 2) in line 3: the number of ballots issued to voters who voted early in accordance with Clauses 2 – 9, Article 70 of this Federal Law; 3) in line 4: the number of ballots issued to voters by the precinct election commission at the polling station on voting day; 4) in line 5: the number of ballots issued to voters who voted outside the polling station on voting day; 5) in line 12: the number of absentee certificates issued to voters of the given electoral precinct by the precinct election commission before voting day; 6) in line 13: the number of voters who voted at the poling station on the basis of absentee certificates; 7) in line 15: the number of absentee certificates issued to voters by the territorial election commission. 7. After the actions mentioned in Clause 6 of this article have been carried out, the persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law may examine the voter list and the non-voting members of a precinct election commission may make sure that the counting was carried out correctly. 8. No further work shall be carried out on the voter list until the control relationships of the data entered in the protocol on vote returns are checked as provided by Clause 21 of this article. In the meantime, the voter list shall be kept in a safe or at a place specially equipped for safekeeping of documents. The chairman or the secretary of a precinct election commission shall make arrangements for safekeeping of the voter list so as to make it inaccessible to persons present at the polling station. 9. Votes cast by voters shall be counted directly by the voting members of a precinct election commission from the ballots in the ballot boxes. 10. Non-voting members of a precinct election commission, other persons listed in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law shall be entitled to be present at vote counting. 11. Direct counting of votes shall be carried out at the polling station in special places accessible for the voting and non-voting members of a precinct election commission. While counting votes, voting members of the precinct election commission, with the exception of the chairman (deputy chairman) and the secretary of the precinct election commission, shall not use any writing utensils. At such time, the actions of members of the precinct election commission shall be in plain view of all persons present at vote counting. 12. While sorting out the ballots a precinct election commission shall put apart the ballots which do not conform to a standard format, i.e., which have not been printed officially or have not been certified by the election commission. Non-standard ballots shall not be reckoned in when ballots are counted. Such ballots shall be packed separately and sealed. 13. First of all, ballots shall be counted in the mobile ballot boxes: first in the boxes containing ballots left by voters who voted early, then in the boxes containing ballots left by voters who voted outside the polling station on voting day. Before each mobile ballot box is opened, the number of voters who voted with the use of the given mobile ballot box shall be announced and the chairman of a precinct election commission shall ask the election commission members and other persons present at vote counting to check the integrity of the seals on the box. Ballots shall be counted in such a way as to avoid violating the secrecy of voting; non-standard ballots shall be put apart. The number of standard ballots taken out of the mobile boxes shall be announced and entered in line 7 of the protocol on vote returns and in its enlarged form. If the number of standard ballots in a mobile ballot box is found to be larger than the number of notes in the voter list, indicating that voters voted early, or larger than the number of applications of voters marked to certify receipt of ballots, all ballots in the given mobile ballot box shall be invalidated by the decision of the precinct election commission and this fact shall be recorded in a separate act which shall be appended to the protocol on vote returns. The act shall indicate the surname and initials of the members of the election commission who conducted early voting or voting outside the polling station using this mobile ballot box. The number of ballots thus invalidated shall be announced, entered into the said act and then summed up with the number of invalid ballots found when the ballots were sorted out. A note indicating the reason why the ballot was invalidated shall be made on the face of all such ballots, over boxes located to the right of the data of registered candidates. This note shall be signed by two voting members of the precinct election commission and certified with the commission's seal. Such ballots shall be packed separately, sealed and shall not be reckoned in when vote counting is continued. 14. The stationary ballot boxes shall be opened after the seals thereon have been checked and found intact. 15. The voting members of a precinct election commission shall sort out the ballots taken out of the mobile and stationary ballot boxes and put them into separate bundles according to the votes cast for each registered candidate, and, in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, also in accordance with the votes cast for the voting option "Against"; at the same time, they shall put apart non-standard and invalid ballots. While sorting out the ballots, the voting members of the precinct election commission shall read aloud the notes made by voters on ballots and show the ballots for examination to all persons present at vote counting. The notes on two and more ballots shall not be read aloud simultaneously. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 16. Invalid ballots shall be counted and summed up separately. Ballots shall be pronounced invalid if they do not contain any marks in the boxes located to the right of the data of registered candidates, voting options "For" or Against" (in the cases provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law) or if more boxes than one are marked on a ballot. If any doubts arise with regard to the expression of a voter's will, the ballot shall be put apart in a separate bundle and, after the ballots are sorted out, a precinct election commission shall take a decision on the validity of each doubtful ballot by voting. A note explaining the reasons why the ballot was pronounced valid or invalid shall be made on the back of such ballots. This note shall be certified by the signatures of not less than two voting members of the precinct election commission and the commission's seal. The ballot pronounced valid or invalid shall be put in the corresponding bundle of ballots. The total number of invalid ballots (including the ballots invalidated in accordance with Clause 13 of this article) shall be announced and entered in line 9 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 17. After that, the sorted out standard ballots shall be counted (separately in each bundle), according to the votes cast for each registered candidate and in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, the votes cast for the voting option "Against." Ballots shall be counted one by one so that the persons present at vote counting could see the marks made by voters on each ballot. Ballots from different bundles shall not be counted simultaneously. The data thus obtained shall be announced and entered in line 18 and subsequent lines of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 18. The voting members of a precinct election commission shall sum up the data of line 18 and the subsequent lines of the protocol on voting return, determine the number of valid ballots, announce this number and enter it in line 10 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged form. 19. The voting members of a precinct election commission shall count the number of standard ballots in the stationary ballot boxes, announce this number and enter it in line 8 of the protocol on vote returns and its enlarged from. 20. After that, observers, foreign (international) observers may examine the sorted out ballots under the supervision of voting members of a precinct election commission, and non-voting members of the precinct commission may make sure that the counting was carried out correctly. 21. After the non-voting members of a precinct election commission, observers, foreign (international) observers examine the sorted out ballots, the control relationships of the data entered in the protocol on vote returns of the precinct election commission shall be checked as prescribed by Annex 4 to this Federal Law, in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. If these control relationships are not complied with, the precinct election commission shall decide to carry out additional data calculation for all or some of the lines of the protocol, including additional counting of ballots. If, after additional calculation of the data in lines 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the protocol on vote returns the control relationships are not complied with again, the precinct election commission shall draw up a statement to this effect to be appended it to the protocol on vote returns and shall enter the information about the discrepancies in the special lines of the protocol on vote returns: line 16 “Number of lost ballots“ and line 17 “Number of ballots unrecorded when received.” If the number indicated in line 2 of the protocol on vote returns is larger than the sum of the numbers indicated in lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the protocol on vote returns, the difference between the number indicated in line 2 and the sum of the numbers indicated in lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be entered in line 16 and the digit “0” shall be put in line 17. If the sum of the numbers indicated in lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the protocol on vote returns is larger than the number indicated in line 2 of the protocol on vote returns, the difference between the sum of the numbers indicated in lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the number indicated in line 2 shall be entered in line 17 and the digit “0” shall be put in line 16. If changes have to be made in the protocol on vote returns on the basis of the additional calculation, a new blank form of the protocol shall be completed and appropriate alterations shall be made in the enlarged form of the protocol. If the control relationships are complied with, the digit “0” shall be put in lines 16 and 17. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 22. After the counting has been completed the ballots shall be packed in separate bundles according to the registered candidates for whom votes were cast in the ballots. Invalid and cancelled ballots as well as ballots in which votes were cast for the voting option "Against" in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law shall be packed in separate bundles. Each bundle of ballots shall be marked to indicate the quantity of ballots in the bundle, the name of the registered candidate marked in the ballots or shall be marked “Invalid ballots” or "Against, etc. The ballots packed as above as well as the ballots packed in accordance with Clauses 12 and 13 of this article, the packed detachable stubs or absentee certificates and the voter list shall be put in bags or boxes which shall be marked with the number of the electoral precinct, the total quantity of all packed ballots, the total quantity of all packed detachable stubs or absentee certificates. The bags or boxes shall be sealed and may be opened only by a decision of a higher-level election commission or a court order. Voting and non-voting members of a precinct election commission, other persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law may put their signatures on these bags or boxes. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, Federal Law No. 107-FZ of July 12, 2006) 23. After all necessary actions and all counting and calculation operations are completed, it shall be mandatory for a precinct election commission to hold a final meeting at which it shall consider complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law committed during the voting and vote counting. Then the precinct election commission shall sign its protocol on vote returns and issue copies of the protocol to persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. The protocol on vote returns shall be prepared in duplicate and shall be signed by all present voting members of the precinct election commission, with the indication of the date and time (hours and minutes) when the protocol was signed. If prepared with the use of technical vote counting facilities or an e-voting complex the protocol on vote returns shall become legally valid after it is signed by the aforementioned persons. The protocol on vote returns shall not be completed with a pencil and no alterations shall be made therein. Signing of the protocol in violation of these rules may constitute a ground for invalidation of this protocol and for vote recount. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 24. If some voting members of a precinct election commission are absent when the protocol on vote returns is being prepared, a note to this effect shall be made in the protocol indicating the reason for their absence. The protocol shall be valid if it is signed by the majority of the established number of voting members of a precinct election commission. If, when a protocol on vote returns is being signed, the signature of any voting member of a precinct election commission is put by another member of the precinct election commission or some other person, this may serve as a ground for invalidation of this protocol and for vote recount. 25. When the protocol on vote returns is being signed, voting members of a precinct election commission who dissent from the contents of the protocol may attach their dissenting opinion to the protocol and this fact shall be noted in the protocol. 26. Upon the request of any member of a precinct election commission or any person mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 this Federal Law, immediately after signing the protocol on vote returns (including a repeat protocol) the precinct election commission, shall issue these persons with certified copies of the protocol. The issuance of certified copies of the protocol shall be recorded by the precinct election commission in a special register and the person who receives a certified copy of the protocol on vote returns shall sign for its receipt in the register. The responsibility for the correspondence between all data contained in a copy of the protocol with the data of the protocol shall be borne by the person who certified this copy. (Clause 26 as amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 27. The first original of the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission, after it was signed by all present voting members of the precinct election commission and its certified copies were issued to all persons entitled to receive them, shall be, without delay, delivered to the relevant territorial election commission and shall not be returned to the precinct election commission. The precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation shall deliver the first original of the protocol on vote returns together with the appended documents directly to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation or, if a territorial election commission has been formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law – to this territorial election commission. Appended to the first original of the protocol shall be the dissenting opinions of voting members of the precinct election commission; the complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law received by the precinct election commission on voting day and before the end of vote counting; the decisions taken by the precinct election commission in connection with these complaints (grievances); certificates, acts, statements and registers of the precinct election commission. Certified copies of these documents and decisions of the precinct election commission shall be appended to the second original of the protocol. The first original of the protocol on vote returns with the appended documents shall be delivered to the territorial election commission by the chairman or the secretary of the precinct election commission or some other voting member of the precinct election commission designated by its chairman. Such delivery of the protocol may be witnessed by other members of the precinct election commission and by observers dispatched to the given precinct election commission. All electoral documents of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation, including ballots but excluding the first original of the protocol and the appended documents submitted to the higher-level election commission, shall be held in safekeeping by the diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation for not less than one year from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, after which they shall be disposed of on the basis of an appropriate certificate, in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 28. The second original of the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission shall be made available for examination to the persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal law and its certified copy shall be displayed to the general public at a place designated by the precinct election commission. After that, the second original of the protocol on vote returns together with the electoral documents provided for by this Federal Law, including the sealed ballots, the lists of non-voting members of the precinct election commission and the list of persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law who were present at the determination of vote returns and preparation of the protocol, the voter list and the seal of the precinct election commission shall be handed over for safekeeping to the relevant territorial election commission not later than five days after the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 29. If the necessary technical equipment is available, immediately after the protocol on vote returns is signed by the members of a precinct election commission formed in electoral precincts on a ship at sea, at a polar station, in a remote or hard-to-reach area or outside the territory of the Russian Federation the data of the protocol on vote returns shall be transmitted via technical communication channels to the higher-level election commission. It shall be mandatory that subsequently, at the earliest opportunity, the first original of the protocol on vote returns and all electoral documentation mentioned in Clause 27 of this article be handed over to the higher-level election commission directly or through diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation. 30. The procedure for the use of a technical system for transmission of information concerning the election, the procedure and deadlines for the transmission, processing and utilization of the said information, including the data of the protocols on vote returns transmitted over technical communication channels, shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 31. If, after the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission was signed and its first original was delivered to a territorial election commission, the precinct election commission, which prepared the protocol, finds any inaccuracy in protocol lines 1 – 17 (a slip of the pen, misprint or an error in data summation) or if such inaccuracy is found by the territorial election commission in the course of the preliminary verification of the protocol, the precinct election commission shall be obliged to call a meeting to consider the question of making corrections in protocol lines 1 – 17. In its announcement about this meeting to be made in accordance with Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law the precinct election commission shall state that it will consider this matter at the meeting. It shall be mandatory for the precinct election commission to make the decision of the meeting known to its non-voting members, observers and other persons who were present when the previously approved protocol on vote returns was being prepared by the precinct election commission, as well as to members of the press. In this case, the precinct election commission shall prepare a protocol on vote returns marked “Repeat.” This protocol shall be forthwith delivered to the territorial election commission. The previous protocol on vote returns submitted by the precinct election commission to the territorial election commission shall be appended to the repeat protocol. If any corrections are to be made in line 18 and subsequent lines of the protocol, a vote recount shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure set forth in Clause 17, Article 74 of this Federal Law. The failure to comply with this procedure for the preparation of a repeat protocol may constitute a ground for invalidation of this protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 74. Determination of Vote Returns by Territorial Election Commission s 1. Based on the data of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions, including the data transmitted via technical communication channels from precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts on ships at sea, at polar stations, in remote and hard-to-reach areas or outside the territory of the Russian Federation, a territorial election commission, after making sure that the protocols have been prepared correctly, shall, not later than on the third day after voting day, determine the vote returns for the given territory by summing up all data contained in the protocols. The data of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions shall be summed up directly by the voting members of the territorial election commission. This may be witnessed by the p ersons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. 2. The protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions shall be accepted, the data of these protocols shall be summed up and the protocol on vote returns for the given territory shall be prepared in one room so that all actions of members of a territorial election commission when they accept the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions, sum up the data of these protocols and prepare a protocol on vote returns for the given territory shall be in plain view of the members of the territorial election commission, observers and other persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. In this room an enlarged form of the summary table of the territorial election commission for the given territory shall be posted, in which the data of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions shall be entered and the time of its entry marked as soon as the first originals of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions are delivered by the chairman, secretary or some other voting member of the precinct election commission. 3. The chairman, the secretary or some other voting member of a precinct election commission shall hand over the first copy of the protocol on vote returns of the precinct election commission together with the appended documents to a voting member of a territorial election commission, who shall check to see that the protocol is prepared correctly and that all required documents are appended to the protocol. If the territorial election commission has the automation facilities of SAS “Vybory,” the data of the protocol shall be immediately entered in SAS “Vybory,” which shall check this data for compliance with the control relationships. If any technical errors made in the course of the entry of the protocol data are discovered after the data was entered in SAS “Vybory,” the corrective data shall be entered in SAS “Vybory” only by a reasoned decision of the territorial election commission. If SAS “Vybory” is not used, compliance with the control relationships shall be verified by the member of the territorial election commission who checks correct preparation of the protocol. (as amended by Federal Laws No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) 4. If the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission has been prepared with the violation of the requirements of this Federal Law to such protocols, the precinct election commission shall prepare a repeat protocol in accordance with the requirements of Clause 31, Article 73 of this Federal Law and the previously submitted protocol shall remain in the election commission of the next higher-level. 5. If the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission has been prepared with due compliance with the requirements of this Federal Law to such protocols, a member of a territorial election commission shall enter the data of this protocol in the summary table of the territorial election commission. The chairman, the secretary or some other voting member of a precinct election commission who handed over the protocol on vote returns to a member of the territorial election commission shall put his signature in the enlarged form of the summary table of the territorial election commission under the data of the protocol on vote returns of the precinct election commission. 6. The election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation shall post the data of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions on the Internet as this data is entered in SAS “Vybory,” but not later than one day after voting day (for the protocols marked “Repeat” or "Vote Recount" – not later than one day after the day of the preparation of the protocol). This data shall be kept on the Internet for not less than one year after the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (Clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. Based on the vote returns, a territorial election commission shall deliver its decision on the vote returns in the form of a protocol on vote returns in which the following data shall be entered: (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 1) the number of precinct election commissions in the given territory; 2) the number of received protocol on vote returns of precinct election commissions on the basis of which the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commission is prepared; 2.1) the number of electoral precincts where vote returns were annulled and the total number of voters in the voter lists for these electoral precincts as of the end of the voting time; (Sub–Clause 2.1 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3) the summarized data for all lines of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions which are indicated in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 72 of this Federal Law. 8. Before the protocol on vote returns is signed, it shall be mandatory for a territorial election commission to hold a final meeting, at which it shall consider the received complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law committed in the course of voting, vote counting and preparation of protocols of lower–level election commissions, determination of vote returns. Then the territorial election commission shall sign the protocol on vote returns and issue certified copies of the protocol to persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. The protocol on vote returns of a territorial election commission shall be prepared in duplicate and shall be signed by all present voting members of the territorial election commission, with the indication of the date and time (hours and minutes) when the protocol was signed. Signing of the protocol in violation of these rules may constitute a ground for invalidation of this protocol. Any voting member of a territorial election commission who dissents from the whole protocol or any part thereof may append his dissenting opinion to the protocol and this fact shall be noted in the protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9. The following documents shall be appended to each original of the protocol: 1) the summary table of vote returns for the given territory, including the complete data of all protocols on vote returns received from the precinct election commissions; 2) the documents certifying the delivery of ballots by the territorial election commission to precinct election commissions and cancellation of unused ballots kept in the territorial election commission, with the indication of the quantity of such ballots; (Sub–Clause 2 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3) the documents certifying issuance of absentee certificates to voters by the territorial election commission, delivery of absentee certificates to precinct election commissions and, in case of a repeat vote, cancellation of unused absentee certificates, with the indication of the number of such certificates. 10. The summary tables and the aforementioned documents shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission. 11. Attached to the first original of the protocol on vote returns of a territorial election commission shall be the dissenting opinions of members of the territorial election commission; the complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law received by the territorial election commission in the period from voting day to the date of the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commission; the decisions taken by the territorial election commission on such complaints (grievances). Certified copies of the dissenting opinions, complaints (grievances) and decisions of the territorial election commission shall be appended to the second original of the protocols. 12. Once signed by all present voting members of a territorial election commission, the first original of the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commission together with the documents appended thereto and the protocols of precinct election commissions shall be, without delay, forwarded to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation. The protocol of a territorial election commission formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law shall be delivered to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and shall not be returned to the territorial election commission. 13. The second original of the protocol on vote returns of a territorial election commission, the second originals of the summary table and the documents mentioned in Clause 9 of this article shall be made available for examination to non-voting members of the territorial election commission and higher-level election commissions and persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law, and their certified copies shall be displayed to the general public at a place designated by the territorial election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 14. The second original of the protocol on vote returns of a territorial election commission together with the second originals of the summary table and the documents mentioned in Clause 9 of this article, the list of non-voting members of the territorial election commission and the list of other persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law, who were present at the determination of vote returns and preparation of the protocol, shall be kept by the secretary of the territorial election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 15. If, after the protocol on vote returns and/or the summary table of a territorial election commission were signed and their first originals were delivered to the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, the territorial election commission, which prepared the protocol and the summary table, finds any in accuracy in the protocol and/or the summary table (including a slip of the pen, misprint, error in the summation of the data of protocols of precinct election commissions), or such inaccuracy is found by the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation in the course of the preliminary verification of the protocol and the summary table, the territorial election commission shall be obliged to call a meeting to consider the question of making corrections in the protocol and/or the summary table. In its announcement about this meeting to be made in accordance with Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law the territorial election commission shall state that it will consider this matter at the meeting. It shall be mandatory for the territorial election commission to make its decision known to non-voting members of the commission, observers, other persons, who were present when the previously approved protocol of the territorial election commission was being prepared, and members of the press. In this case, the territorial election commission shall prepare a protocol on vote returns and/or a summary table marked “Repeat.” This protocol and/or summary table shall be forthwith delivered to the higher-level election commission. The protocol on vote returns and/or the summary table which were previously delivered by the territorial election commission to the higher-level election commission shall be appended to the repeat protocol and/or the repeat summary table. The failure to comply with this procedure for the preparation of a repeat protocol and/or a repeat summary table may constitute a ground for invalidation of the repeat protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 16. If any errors or inconsistencies are found in any protocol on vote returns received from precinct election commissions or if any doubts arise as to the correctness of any protocol received from precinct election commissions, a territorial election commission may, in the course of the preliminary verification of the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission and after its acceptance, resolve that the given precinct election commission carry out a vote recount or that such vote recount for the given electoral precinct be carried out by the territorial election commission itself. Such vote recount may be carried out before the territorial election commission determines the vote returns and prepares its protocol on vote returns. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 17. Votes shall be recounted in the presence of a voting member (members) of a territorial election commission by the election commission which prepared and approved the protocol being verified or by the election commission which ordered vote recount. The election commission which is to carry out a vote recount shall inform to this effect the members of the relevant precinct election commission, registered candidates or their agents, other persons mentioned in Clause 2 Article 23 of this Federal Law, who may be present at the vote recount. On the basis of the vote recount results the election commission which carried out such vote recount shall prepare a protocol on vote returns and mark it with the words "Vote Recount." Certified copies of this protocol shall be issued to observers, other persons mentioned in Clause 5 Article 23 o this Federal Law. If the protocol is prepared by a precinct election commission, it shall be forthwith forwarded to the territorial election commission together with the protocol on vote returns submitted by the precinct election commission earlier. The failure to meet these rules for the preparation of a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount" may serve as a ground for invalidation of the protocol. Article 75. Determination of Vote Returns by Election Commissions of Subjects of the Russian Federation 1. Based on the data of the first originals of the protocols on vote returns of territorial election commissions the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, after making sure that the protocols have been prepared correctly, shall, not later than on the fifth day after voting day, determine the vote returns on the territory of the given subject of the Russian Federation by summing up the data contained in these protocols. The data of the protocols on vote returns of the territorial election commissions shall be summed up directly by the voting members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. 2. The protocols on vote returns of territorial election commissions shall be accepted, the data of these protocols shall be summed up and the protocol on vote returns on the territory of a subject of the Russian Federation shall be prepared in one room, with all actions of members of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation when they accept the protocols of territorial election commissions, sum up the data of these protocols and prepare the protocol on vote returns on the territory of the given subject of the Russian Federation being in plain view of members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, observers and other persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. In this room an enlarged form of the summary table of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall be posted in which the data of the protocols on vote returns of territorial election commissions shall be entered and the time of its entry marked as soon as the first originals of the protocols on vote returns of territorial election commissions are delivered by the chairman, the secretary or some other voting member of a territorial election commission. 3. The chairman, the secretary or some other voting member of a territorial election commission shall deliver the first original of the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commission together with the appended documents to a voting member of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, who shall check to see that the protocol has been prepared correctly, all required documents are appended to the protocol and the control relationships are duly complied with. 4. If the protocol and/or the summary table of vote returns of a territorial election commission do/does not meet the requirements of this Federal Law to such protocol and/or summary table, the territorial election commission shall prepare a repeat protocol and/or a repeat summary table in accordance with the requirements of Clause 15, Article 74 of this Federal Law, and the previously submitted protocol and/or summary table shall be kept by the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation. 5. If the protocol on vote returns and/or the summary table of vote returns of a territorial election commission meet(s) the requirements of this Federal Law to the preparation of such protocol and/or summary table, a member of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall enter the data of this protocol in the summary table of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. The chairman, the secretary or some other voting member of a territorial election commission who delivered the protocol on vote returns to a member of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall put his signature in the enlarged form of the summary table of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation under the data of the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commission. 6. Based on the protocols on vote returns of the territorial election commissions the election commissions of a subject of the Russian Federation shall deliver its decision on the vote returns in the form of a protocol on vote returns. on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation, which shall indicate the following: (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 1) the number of territorial election commissions on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation; 2) the number of the protocols on vote returns of the territorial election commissions, on the basis of which the given protocol on vote returns is prepared; 3) the number of electoral precincts where vote returns were annulled and the total number of voters included in the voter lists of these electoral precincts as of the end of voting; 4) the summarized data for all lines of the protocols on vote returns of the territorial election commissions. 7. Before the protocol on vote returns on the territory of a subject of the Russian Federation is signed, it shall be mandatory for the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation to hold a final meeting, at which it shall consider the received complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law committed in the course of voting, vote counting and preparation of protocols on vote returns of lower–level election commissions. Then the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall sign the protocol on vote returns and issue certified copies of the protocol to persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. The protocol on vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall be prepared in duplicate and shall be signed by all present voting members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, with the indication of the date and time (hours and minutes) when the protocol was signed. Signing of the protocol in violation of these rules may constitute a ground for invalidation of this protocol. A voting member of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation who dissents from the whole protocol on vote returns or any part thereof may append his dissenting opinion to the protocol and this fact shall be noted in the protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8. The following documents shall be appended to each original of the protocol: 1) the summary table of vote returns, including the complete data of all received protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commissions; 2) the documents certifying the delivery of ballots by the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation to territorial election commissions. (Sub–Clause 2 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3) the documents certifying issuance of absentee certificates to territorial election commissions and, in the event of a repeat vote, cancellation of unused absentee certificates, with the indication of the number of such certificates. 9. The summary table and the documents mentioned in Clause 8 of this article shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation. 10. Attached to the first original of the protocol on vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall be the dissenting opinions of members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation; complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law received by the given commission in the period from voting day to the date when the protocol on vote returns was prepared by the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation; the decisions taken on such complaints (grievances). Certified copies of the dissenting opinions, the complaints (grievances), the decisions of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall be appended to the second original of the protocol. 11. After the protocol and the summary table of vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation are signed, the first original of the protocol together with the appended documents shall be immediately delivered to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and shall not be returned to the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. 12. The second original of the protocol on vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, the second originals of the summary table and documents mentioned in Clause 8 of this article shall be made available for examination to non-voting members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, non–voting members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law, and their certified copies shall be displayed to the general public at a place designated by the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 13. The second copy of the protocol on vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation, the second originals of the summary table and documents mentioned in Clause 8 of this article, the lists of non-voting members of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, the list of persons mentioned in Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law, who were present at the determination of vote returns and preparation of the protocol, the protocols of territorial and precinct election commissions and other documents provided for by this Federal Law shall be kept by the secretary of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. 14. If, after the protocol on vote returns of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation and/or the summary table were signed and their first originals were delivered to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, which prepared the protocol and the summary table, finds any inaccuracy in the protocol or summary table (including a slip of the pen, misprint, error in the summation of the data of protocols of territorial election commissions) or such inaccuracy is found by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in the course of the preliminary verification of the protocol and/or summary table, the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall be obliged to call a meeting to consider the question of making corrections in the protocol and/or the summary table. In its announcement about this meeting to be made in accordance with Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall state that it will consider this matter at the meeting. It shall be mandatory for the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation to make its decision known to non-voting members of the commission, to other persons, who were present when the previously approved protocol of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation was being prepared, and to members of the press. In this case, the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall prepare a protocol on vote returns and/or the summary table marked "Repeat." This protocol and/or the summary table shall be forthwith delivered to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The protocol on vote returns and/or the summary table which were previously delivered to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be appended to the repeat protocol and/or the repeat summary table. The failure to comply with this procedure for the preparation of a repeat protocol and/or a repeat summary table may constitute a ground for invalidation of the repeat protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 15. If any errors or inconsistencies are found in the protocol on vote returns received from the lower-level election commissions or if any doubts arise as to the correctness of these protocols, the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation may resolve that a vote recount be carried out in the relevant electoral precinct, relevant territory. Such vote recount may be carried out before the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation determines the vote returns and prepares a protocol on vote returns. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 16. In the case provided for in Clause 15 of this article, a vote recount shall be carried out in the presence of a voting member (voting members) of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation by the election commission which prepared and approved the protocol being verified or by the higher-level territorial election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation, the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. The election commission which is to carry out a vote recount shall inform about the recount the members of the relevant election commission, registered candidates or their agents, other persons mentioned in Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law, who may be present at the vote recount. Based on the vote recount the election commission which carried it out shall prepare a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount." The certified copies of such protocol shall be issued to observers, other persons mentioned Clause 5, Article 23 of this Federal Law. If such protocol is prepared by a lower-level election commission, it shall be forthwith delivered to the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. The previously delivered protocol on vote returns of a precinct, territorial election commission shall be appended to the protocol prepared on the basis of a vote recount. The failure to comply with this procedure for the preparation of a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount" may constitute a ground for invalidation of the protocol. On the basis of a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount" corrections shall be made in the protocol on vote returns of the higher–level election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 76. Determination of the Results of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation 1. Based of the data contained in the first originals of the protocol on vote returns received from the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law (if territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law were not formed – also the data contained in the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation, including the data transmitted over the technical communication channels from the said precinct election commissions) the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall, after making a preliminary examination of the protocols to make sure that they are prepared correctly, sum up the data of the protocols and determine the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation not later than ten days after voting day. The data of the protocols of the election commissions shall be summed up directly by the voting members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 2. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall prepare the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, which shall contain the following data: 1) the number of the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation; 2) the number of the territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law (if territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law were not formed – the number of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation); 3) the number of the protocols of the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, on the basis of which the given protocol was prepared; 4) the number of the protocol on vote returns of the territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law, on the basis of which the given protocol was prepared (if territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law were not formed – the number of protocols on vote returns of the precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation, on the basis of which the given protocol was prepared); 5) the summarized data for all lines of the protocols on vote returns of the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law (if territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law were not formed – for all lines of the protocols on vote returns of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation); 5.1) Repealed. – Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007. 6) the surname, first name and patronymic of the registered candidates appearing the ballot, and, if they coincide, other data of the registered candidates; 7) the number of votes cast for each registered candidate; 8) in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, the number of votes cast for the voting option "Against." (Sub–Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 2.1. Based on the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall take a decision on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (Sub–Clause 2.1 was added by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. A registered candidate shall be deemed elected if he received more than a half of the total number of votes cast by voters who took part in the voting. The number of voters who took part in the voting shall be determined from the number of standard ballots found in the ballot boxes. 4. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall declare the election of the President of the Russian Federation not to have taken place in one of the following cases: 1) Repealed. – Federal Law Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007; 2) if, in accordance with Clause 5, Article 77 of this Federal Law voting was conducted on one candidature and less than 50 percent of the votes who took pat in the voting voted for this candidate; (Sub–Clause 2 as amended by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 3) if two candidates were put on the ballot in the general election and neither has received more than a half of the total number of votes cast by the voters who took part in the voting; 4) if all candidates withdraw from the election before a repeat vote. 5. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall declare the election of the President of the Russian Federation null and void: 1) if violations committed during the voting or determination of vote returns do not allow the results of the expression of the voters' will to be reliably determined; 2) if the vote returns have been annulled in some electoral precincts where, at the end of voting, the number of voters in voter lists totals not less than one-fourth of the total number of voters included in the voter lists as of the end of voting; 3) by a court decision. 6. The protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be prepared by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and signed by all present voting members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Attached to the protocol shall be the summary table including the complete data of all protocols on vote returns received from the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation and the protocols on vote returns received from the territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law (if territorial election commissions mentioned in Clause 3, Article 14 of this Federal Law were not formed – also the protocol on vote returns of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation). 7. Any voting member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation who does not agree with the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation in full or with certain provisions thereof shall be entitled to attach his dissenting opinion to the protocol and a note to this effect shall be made in the protocol. Complaints (grievances) concerning violations of this Federal Law received by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and the decisions taken thereon shall also be appended to the protocol. 8. Certified copies of the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and of the summary table shall be circulated to all members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, persons mentioned in Clause 1, Article 23 of this Federal Law, members of the press who were present when the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation were being determined. 9. If, after the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation and/or the summary table was/were signed, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation finds an inaccuracy in these documents (including a slip of the pen, a misprint, an error in the summation of the data of the protocols of lower-level election commissions), the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be obliged to call a meeting to consider the question of making corrections in the protocol and/or the summary table. In its announcement about this meeting to be made in accordance with Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall indicate that it will consider this matter at the meeting. It shall be mandatory for the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to make its decision known to its non-voting members, other persons who were present when the previously approved protocol was being prepared and to members of the press. 10. If any errors, inconsistencies are found in the protocol on vote returns and if doubts arise as to the correctness of the protocols received from the election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may resolve that votes cast in the relevant electoral precinct, territory, subject of the Russian Federation be recounted. Such vote recount may be conducted not later than one day before expiration of the period set by this Federal Law for determining the results of the election. 11. In the case provided for in Clause 10 of this article, a vote recount shall be carried out in the presence of a voting member (voting members) of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the election commission which prepared and approved the protocol on vote returns being verified or by an election commission of a higher level or by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The election commission which is to carry out a vote recount shall inform about the recount the members of the relevant election commission, registered candidates or their agents, other persons mentioned in Clause 2, Article 23 of this Federal Law, who may be present at the vote recount. Based on the vote recount the election commission which carried it out shall prepare a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount" and the protocols on vote returns of all higher–level commissions shall be corrected on the basis of this protocol. The previously delivered protocol on vote returns shall be appended to the protocol prepared on the basis of a vote recount. The failure to comply with this procedure for the preparation of a protocol on vote returns marked "Vote Recount" may constitute a ground for invalidation of the protocol. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 77. Repeat Vote in the Election of the President of the Russian Federation 1. If more than two registered candidates are listed on the ballot and none of them was elected President of the Russian Federation according to the results of the general election, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall announce a repeat vote (runoff vote) in the election of the President of the Russian Federation on the two registered candidates who polled the largest number of votes. A repeat vote on a registered candidate shall be announced if the registered candidate submits a written statement expressing his consent for a repeat vote to be conducted on his candidature. 2. A repeat vote shall be held 21 days after voting day in the general election in compliance with the requirements of this Federal Law, save the requirement set forth in Clause 3 and Sub-Clause 1 of Clause 4, Article 76 of this Federal Law. An announcement about a repeat vote shall be published in the mass media not later than two days after the relevant decision was taken by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. 3. If, before a repeat vote, one of the registered candidates on whom the repeat vote is to be conducted withdraws his candidature or ceases to be a registered candidate for some other reason, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall, by its decision, transfer his place on the ballot to the registered candidate who received the next largest number of votes after the candidates on whom the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation initially announced a repeat vote, provided that the said registered candidate submits a written statement expressing his consent for a repeat vote to be conducted on his candidature. Such statement shall be submitted not later than the second day after the day on which the candidate on whom a repeat vote was initially announced ceased to be a registered candidate. In this case, a repeat vote shall be held on the first Sunday after 14 days elapse from the day on which the statement was submitted under Clause 1, Article 44 of this Federal Law or from the day on which the candidate ceased to be a registered candidate for some other reason. 4. According to the results of a repeat vote the registered candidate, who received more votes cast by voters who took part in the voting than the other registered candidate, shall be deemed elected for the office of President of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 5. A repeat vote may be conducted on one candidature if only one registered candidate remains after withdrawal of the other registered candidates. In this case, the registered candidate shall be deemed elected to the office of President of the Russian Federation if he receives not less than 50 percent of votes cast by voters who took part in the voting. Article 78. Repeat Election of the President of the Russian Federation 1. If the election of the President of the Russian Federation was declared not to have taken place or to be null and void or if, as of the day of a repeat vote, both registered candidates on whom the repeat vote was announced withdrew their candidatures or ceased to be registered candidates for some other reason or if neither of the registered candidate was elected for the office of President of the Russian Federation as a result of the repeat vote, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation shall call a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation. The decision to call a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be published in the mass media not later than three days after the day on which it was taken. 2. Voting in a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be conducted not later than four months after voting day in the initial election or not later than four months after the day on which the election was declared not to have taken place or to be null and void. Subject to a decision of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, in the event of a repeat election the periods for the performance of electoral actions may be reduced but by not more than one–third. (As amended by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 20070 3. The nomination and registration of candidates, other electoral actions connected with a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law. 4. In the event of a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation candidates whose actions (omissions) served as a reason for declaring the general election or the election with a repeat vote to be null and void shall not be eligible for re–nomination. 5. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may decree that the powers of precinct election commissions be extended or new precinct election commissions be formed for a repeat election of the President of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the procedure established by Article 15 of this Federal Law. Article 79. Publication of Vote Returns and Results of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation 1. The vote returns for each electoral precinct, each territory, each subject of the Russian Federation within the scope of the data contained in the protocols of the relevant election commissions and election commissions of the next lower shall be made available to all voters, foreign (international) observers, members of the press upon their request immediately after the protocols on vote returns, election results were signed by the members of the election commission which received such request. This data shall be provided by the appropriate election commission. 2. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall present preliminary information about the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation to the mass media as such information becomes available to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (Sub–Clause 2 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. The election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall, not later than two weeks after voting day, officially publish the data of the protocols on vote returns of all territorial election commissions and the data of the corresponding summary tables in the regional state print media. If a vote recount was carried out in some electoral precincts, some territories and the results of this vote recount are received by the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation after this deadline, then the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation shall officially publish the corrected data within one week after it accepts its decision on the basis of this data. The election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation may publish the summary tables of territorial election commissions in one of or several municipal print media outlets or by putting out a special booklet which shall be circulated to the state and municipal public libraries located on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation, to the mass media organizations, regional branches of political parties registered on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation. (Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. The results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation as well as the information about the number of votes received by each registered candidate and, in the case provided for in Clause 5.1, Article 67 of this Federal Law, about the number of votes cast for the voting option "Against" shall be officially published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within three days of the day on which it signs the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. Within tens days of the day on which the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation signs the protocol on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall officially publish in its official organ the complete data contained in the protocols on vote returns of all election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 107–FZ of July 12, 2006) 5. Within two months of voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall officially publish in its official organ the information about the vote returns, including the complete data of the protocols on vote returns, results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation of all election commissions, save precinct election commissions, and the information about the elected candidate provided for by Clauses 4 and 6, Article 67 of this Federal Law. Within seven days of such publication the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall post this information on the Internet where it shall be kept for at least one year from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) Article 80. Use of State Automated System “Vybory” (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 1. Only SAS “Vybory” shall be used in the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, including the registration of voters, preparation of voter lists, determination of vote returns and election results, for quick receipt, transmission and processing of the information. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 2. If appropriate equipment is available, immediately after the protocol on vote returns is signed the data of the protocol shall be transmitted in form of soft copy to the higher-level election commission over the telecommunications channels of SAS “Vybory,” subject to the mandatory rule that the first original of the protocol on vote returns shall be subsequently submitted to the higher-level election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. The relevant election commission shall resolve to form a supervisory group consisting of voting and non-voting members of the commission to supervise the use of SAS “Vybory” or its separate technical facilities. The competence of this group is established by the Federal Law “On the State Automated System of the Russian Federation ‘Vybory’.” (Clause 3 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 4. All members of an election commission, observers shall have the right to examine any information enter into and retrieved from SAS “Vybory” in connection with the determination of vote returns and the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. Repealed. – Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005. 6. From the beginning of voting and up to the time when an election commission signs the protocol on vote returns SAS “Vybory” with its telecommunications channels, over which data is transmitted from lower-level election commissions to higher-level election commissions, shall be used for monitoring the progress of voting and determination of vote returns. During this period transmission of any data from the information centers of higher-level election commissions to the information centers of lower-level election commissions shall be prohibited, except for the signals acknowledging receipt of the information. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 7. The information about the progress of voting and vote returns received by means of SAS “Vybory” shall be preliminary information which has no legal significance, save the cases where use is made of technical facilities for vote counting and/or e-voting complexes in accordance with the procedure established by the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum." (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 8. The computer printout of the protocol on vote returns of a precinct election commission which has been transmitted directly to the higher-level election commission and entered in SAS “Vybory” shall be appended to the second original of this protocol. The authenticity of the data contained in the computer printout shall be certified by the signature of the person responsible for the entry of this data. (Clause 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 9. The information about the voter turnout, preliminary and final vote returns entered into SAS “Vybory” shall be readily accessible (in the "read only" mode) to the users of the Internet in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 10. When SAS “Vybory” is used in accordance with this Federal Law, the information about the registered candidates, the progress of voting and preliminary vote returns may be made known to voters over the public telecommunications networks in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. (Clause 10 was added by Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007) Article 81. Safekeeping of Electoral Documentation 1. Documents of precinct election commissions (including ballots) and territorial election commissions shall be kept in guarded rooms and shall be transferred to the higher-level election commissions within the period established by this Federal Law. 2. Documents of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, territorial election commissions together with the documents transferred to them for safekeeping by precinct election commissions shall be held in safekeeping for the periods established by the Russian Federation laws. (Clause 2 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 3. Ballots, absentee certificates, voter lists and signature sheets shall be held in safekeeping not less than one year from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. 4. The first originals of the protocols on vote returns, protocols on the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation, the summary tables, the reports of the election commissions on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election, the final financial reports of the registered candidates shall be held in safekeeping not less than five years from the day of the official publication of the results of the election of the President of the Russian Federation. (Sub–Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) 5. If an appeal against the decision of an election commission on vote returns, results of the election is pending in court or if criminal cases were initiated in connection with the violation of the electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation, the safekeeping periods of the relevant electoral documents shall be extended for as long as necessary until the court decision becomes legally effective or the case is dismissed in accordance with the law. 6. Until the electoral documents are transferred to the higher-level election commission or to the archives or until these documents are disposed of upon the expiration of their safekeeping periods, the responsibility for their preservation shall be borne by the chairman (deputy chairman) and the secretary of the relevant election commission. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005) |