Adopted by the State Duma on November 20, 2002
Approved by the Federation Council on December 11, 2002
Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (hereafter «deputies of the State Duma») shall be elected by citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Participation of a Russian Federation citizen in the election shall be free and voluntary. Nobody shall compel a Russian Federation citizen to participate or not to participate in the election or shall prevent free expression of his will .
1. The legislation on the election of deputies of the State Duma is formed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Federal Law No. 67-FZ of June 12, 2002 «On Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» (hereafter «Federal Law `On Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum'»), this Federal Law, other federal laws.
2. The main concepts and terms used in this Federal Law shall have the same meaning as in the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum,» unless otherwise provided by this Federal Law.
1. Under the Constitution of the Russian Federation 450 deputies shall be elected to the State Duma.
2. Two hundred and twenty five deputies of the State Duma shall be elected in single-seat electoral districts (one district - one deputy) to be formed on the basis of a uniform quota of voters' representation for single-seat electoral districts, with the exception of electoral districts in the Russian Federation subjects where the number of voters is less than the uniform representation quota. The uniform quota of voters' representation for a single-seat electoral district shall be determined by dividing the total number of voters residing on the territory of the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian Federation in accordance with the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» by the total number (225) of single-seat electoral districts.
3. Two hundred and twenty five deputies of the State Duma shall be elected in the federal electoral district in proportion to the number of votes cast for a federal lists of candidates nominated by political parties, electoral blocs.
1. A Russian Federation citizen who has attained to the age of 18 years on voting day shall be entitled to elect deputies of the State Duma in the federal electoral district.
2. A Russian Federation citizen who has attained to the age of 18 years on voting day and whose place of residence is within the territory of a relevant electoral district shall be entitled to elect a deputy of the State Duma in a single-seat electoral district.
3. A Russian Federation citizen who has attained to the age of 18 years on voting day shall be entitled to participate in the nomination of candidates for election to the State Duma and lists of candidates, in the election campaigning, in the monitoring of the conduct of the election and the work of election commissions, including determination of vote returns and establishment of election results, and in the performance of other electoral actions, in the procedure established by this Federal Law, other federal laws.
4. Eligible for election as a deputy of the State Duma shall be a Russian Federation citizen who has attained to the age of 21 years on voting day.
5. A Russian Federation citizen who resides or stays outside the territory of the Russian Federation during the preparation and conduct of the election shall have the same electoral rights as other citizens of the Russian Federation at the election of deputies of the State Duma.
6. A Russian Federation citizen shall not be entitled to the right to elect or be elected or participate in other electoral actions if he has been declared by a court to be incapable or is held in custody under a court sentence.
7. A Russian Federation citizen deprived of the right to occupy state offices for a definite period by a court decision which has come into force shall not be registered as a candidate for election to the State Duma if the voting at the election of deputies of the State Duma is to take place before the expiry of the period established by the court.
1. The conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma within the period established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and this Federal Law shall be obligatory.
2. Under the Constitution of the Russian Federation the election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation shall be called by the President of the Russian Federation. The decision to call the election shall be taken not earlier than 110 days and not later than 90 days before voting day. Voting day at the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be the second Sunday of the month in which the constitutional term of the State Duma of the previous convocation expires. The constitutional term for which the State Duma is to be elected shall commence from the day of its election. The day of the election of the State Duma shall be the day of voting as a result of which it was elected as a competent body. The decision to call the election shall be officially published in the mass media not later than five days after it was taken.
3. If the President of the Russian Federation does not call the election of deputies of the State Duma within the period indicated in Clause 2 of this article, the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be called and conducted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the first or second Sunday of the month which follows the month in which the constitutional term of the State Duma of the previous convocation expires. The decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to call the election shall be published not later than seven days after the expiry of the period established by Clause 2 of this article for the official publication of the decision to call the election.
4. When dissolving the State Duma in the cases and in the procedure provided by the Constitution of the Russian Federation the President of the Russian Federation shall simultaneously call an early election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation. In this case voting day shall be the last Sunday before the day on which three months expire from the day of the dissolution of the State Duma. The decision to call an early election shall be officially published in the mass media not later than five days from the day when it was taken.
5. If the President of the Russian Federation does not call the election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation after the dissolution of the State Duma, the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be called and conducted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the first or second Sunday after the expiry of thee months from the day of the dissolution of the State Duma. The decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to call the election shall be published not later than seven days after the expiry of the period established by Clause 4 of this article for the official publication of the decision to call the election.
6. In the cases provided by Clauses 4 and 5 of this article the periods for the performance of electoral actions established by this Federal Law shall be reduced by one-fourth.
7. If the Sunday on which the election is to be held coincides with a day preceding a holiday, or a holiday, or a day following a holiday or if this Sunday has been declared a working day in the established procedure, the election shall be held on the next Sunday.
1. Candidates for election to the State Duma (hereafter «candidates») may be nominated directly as well as on a federal list of candidates.
2. Direct nomination of candidates may be carried out by way of self-nomination and by way of nomination by a political party, electoral bloc.
3. Nomination of candidates on a federal list of candidates may be carried out by political parties which are entitled under Federal Law No. 95-FZ of July 11, 2001 «On Political Parties « (hereafter «Federal Law `On Political Parties'») to participate in the election and nominate lists of candidates (hereafter «political parties») and by electoral blocs.
1. The preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma, the measures to ensure the realization and protection of the electoral rights of citizens and control over the observance of these rights shall be carried out by election commissions within the scope of their competence laid down by this Federal Law, other federal laws.
2. When preparing and conducting the election of deputies of the State Duma election commissions shall, within the scope of their competence laid down by this Federal Law, other federal laws, be independent of the bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government. Any interference in the activity of election commissions on the part of the legislative (representative) and executive bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, officials, other persons shall not be allowed.
3. The decisions and acts of election commissions adopted by them within the scope of their competence laid down by this Federal Law, other federal laws shall be binding upon the federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of the Russian Federation subjects, state bodies and institutions, bodies of local self-government, candidates, registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, public associations, organizations, officials and voters.
4. When preparing and conducting the election of deputies of the State Duma election commissions may use the state automated information system to inform voters about the progress of the preparation and conduct of the election and about the election results, to search for, acquire, replenish, process, transmit and store the information used in the course of the preparation and conduct of the election and provide informational support for the activities of election commissions carried out within the scope of their competence laid down by this Federal Law, other federal laws.
1. Citizens of the Russian Federation, political parties, other public associations may conduct election campaigning in any form allowed by law, using lawful methods.
2. In this Federal Law election campaigning means the activities which are carried out during an election campaign and are aimed to encourage or are encouraging voters to vote for or against a candidate, candidates, list of candidates or against all candidates (against all lists of candidates).
3. The state shall assure for citizens of the Russian Federation, political parties, other public associations the freedom to conduct election campaigning in accordance with this Federal Law, other federal laws.
4. Equal conditions of access to the mass media for election campaigning shall be guaranteed to registered candidates, to political parties and electoral blocs which registered their federal lists of candidates.
1. Expenses on the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be paid out of the funds allocated from the federal budget.
2. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall form their own electoral funds to finance their election campaign.
1. The election of deputies of the State Duma shall be prepared and conducted openly and publicly.
2. The regulations of election commissions, bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government directly relating to the preparation and conduct of the election shall be published in state and municipal print media. Other decisions of these bodies directly relating to the preparation and conduct of the election shall be published or shall be made public in some other manner.
Foreign nationals, stateless persons, foreign legal entities shall not engage in any activities which help or impede the nomination and registration of candidates (list of candidates), election of registered candidates.
1. In order to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma in single-seat electoral districts 225 single-seat electoral districts shall be formed on the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of the information submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the executive bodies of state power of the Russian Federation subjects about the number of voters registered in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» in the territories of the Russian Federation subjects.
2. Voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation shall be included in single-seat electoral districts formed on the territory of the Russian Federation. The information about the number of voters registered outside the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The number of voters in a single-seat electoral district in which voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation are to be included must be less than the uniform quota of voters' representation. The number of voters thus included in a single-seat electoral district shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of voters registered on the territory of the given single-seat electoral district.
3. Single-seat electoral districts shall be formed in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) single-seat electoral districts shall be approximately equal in the number of voters registered on their territories, with a permissible deviation from the average voters' representation quota within one Russian Federation subject not exceeding 10 percent, and in hard-to reach and remote areas not exceeding 15 percent. The list of hard-to-reach and remote areas shall be established by a law of a Russian Federation subject that came into force before the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election;
(2) formation of a single-seat electoral district consisting of non-adjacent territories within the territory of one Russian Federation subject shall not be allowed, with the exception of enclave territories of a Russian Federation subject, municipality, other administrative-territorial unit;
(3) formation of a single-seat electoral district on the territory of two and more Russian Federation subjects shall not be allowed;
(4) at least one single-seat electoral district shall be formed on the territory of each Russian Federation subject;
(5) single-seat electoral districts shall be distributed between the Russian Federation subjects so as to ensure that voters residing in different Russian Federation subjects should, as far as possible, have equal representation in the State Duma, subject to Sub-clauses 3 and 4 of this clause.
4. The requirements to the formation of single-seat electoral districts set forth in Clause 3 of this article shall be met with due regard to the administrative-territorial structure(division) of a Russian Federation subject, boundaries of the municipalities.
5. Based on the voter data obtained in accordance with the «Regulation on the State System for Registration of Voters, Referendum Participants» the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall prepare a scheme of the formation of single-seat electoral districts and its graphical representation and not later than 190 days before the expiry of the constitutional term for which the State Duma of the current convocation was elected shall submit this scheme and its graphical representation to the State Duma for its consideration in the established procedure. The scheme of the single-seat electoral districts must indicate:
(1) the name and number of each single-seat electoral district;
(2) the list of the administrative-territorial units, or municipalities, or populated centers at the level of cities, raions, city districts or other populated centers of the corresponding level, comprised in each single-seat electoral district. If the single-seat electoral district includes a part of the territory of an administrative-territorial unit, a municipality or a populated center, the scheme must indicate the boundaries of this part of the administrative-territorial unit, municipality or populated center. If one single-seat electoral district was formed on the territory of a Russian Federation subject, the list of administrative-territorial units, or municipalities, or populated centers comprised in this single-seat electoral district shall not be included in the scheme of single-seat electoral districts;
(3) the location of each district election commission or the election commission of a Russian Federation subject charged with the functions of a district election commission;
(4) the number of voters registered in each single-seat electoral district and, if more than one single-seat electoral district was formed on the territory of a Russian Federation subject, also the number of voters registered in each administrative-territorial unit, or each municipality, or each populated center (or parts thereof) comprised in each single-seat electoral district;
(5) the number of voters included in single-seat electoral districts in accordance with Clause 2 of this article and the names of the foreign states where these voters reside.
6. Single-seat electoral districts may be formed and their scheme determined with the use of the state automated information system.
7. The scheme of single-seat electoral districts shall be approved by a federal law which shall be published (made public) not later than 120 days before the expiry of the constitutional term for which the State Duma of the current convocation was elected.
8. If the federal law indicated in Clause 7 of this article, including the scheme of single-seat electoral districts, was not published (made public) within the period established by Clause 7 of this article or in the event of the dissolution of the State Duma the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall take one of the following decisions:
(1) to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation using the scheme of single-seat electoral districts which was used at the elections to the State Duma of the previous convocation (hereafter «previous scheme of the districts»), if this scheme meets the requirements of Clause 3 of this article. In this case the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall publish (make public) the previous scheme of the districts not later than 10 days after the expiry of the period indicated in Clause 7 of this article or, in the event of an early election, not later than 75 days before voting day;
(2) to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma in single-seat electoral districts whose scheme is to be determined, approved and published (made public) by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 10 days after the expiry of the period indicated in Clause 7 of this article or, in the event of an early election, not later than 75 days before voting day, if the previous scheme of the districts fails to meet the requirements of Clause 3 of this article. When determining the said scheme the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall ascertain the number of voters and make alterations in the previous scheme of the districts, with such alterations to be made only in the districts which fail to meet the requirements of Clause 3 of this article. If these alterations necessitate changing the boundaries of some other districts in the previous scheme of the districts the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may change the boundaries of such districts in accordance with the requirements of Clause 3 of this article.
The federal electoral district wherein deputies of the State Duma are elected in proportion to the number of votes cast for federal lists of candidates nominated by political parties, electoral blocs shall comprise the entire territory of the Russian Federation. Voters included in single-seat electoral districts in accordance with Clause 2, Article 12 of this Federal Law shall be regarded as having been included in the federal electoral district as well.
1. Electoral precincts shall be formed to conduct voting and count votes at the election of deputies of the State Duma. Electoral precincts shall be formed on the basis of the information about the number of voters registered in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» on the territories of municipalities.
2. Electoral precincts shall be formed by the head of a municipality (if the charter of the municipality does not provide for such office - by a person authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government) with the concurrence of a relevant territorial election commission, or by the persons indicated in Clauses 5 and 6 of this article. In the cases provided by Clause 4 of this article electoral precincts shall be formed by a territorial election commission. Electoral precincts shall be formed not later than 50 days before voting day with due regard to local and other conditions and so as to ensure maximum convenience for voters.
3. Formation of electoral precincts shall meet the following requirements:
the number of voters registered on the territory of each electoral precinct shall not exceed 3,000;
the boundaries of electoral districts shall not be crossed by the boundaries of electoral precincts.
4. In places where voters stay temporarily (hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where suspects and defendants are held in custody and other places of temporary stay), in hard-to-reach or remote areas, on ships at sea on voting day and at polar stations electoral precincts may be formed within the period established by Clause 2 of this article, and, in exceptional cases, not later than five days before voting day, subject to the approval of a district election commission. Such electoral precincts shall be included in single-seat electoral districts where the electoral precincts are located or where the ship is registered. In hard-to-reach or remote areas, on ships at sea on voting day and at polar stations electoral precincts may be formed by the higher territorial election commission with the concurrence of the captain of the ship, head of the polar station, heads of other organizations in hard-to-reach and remote areas.
5. Servicemen shall vote in regular electoral precincts. As an exception, electoral precincts may be formed on the territory of military units stationed in isolated areas, far from populated centers. In such cases electoral precincts shall be formed by commanders of military units subject to a decision of a relevant district election commission within the period indicated in Clause 2 of this article and, in exceptional cases, not later than five days before voting day.
6. To conduct voting and count the votes of voters who on voting day stay on the territory of foreign states the heads of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation shall form electoral precincts in the country where they operate not later than 50 days before voting day. In this case, the requirements to the number of registered voters set forth in Clause 3 of this article may be waived.
7. The lists of electoral precincts indicating their number and boundaries (if an electoral precinct includes a part of the territory of a populated center) or the populated centers (if an electoral precinct is formed on the territory of several populated centers), the location of the premises of precinct election commissions and polling stations, the telephone numbers of precinct election commissions shall be published by the head of a municipality (or, if the charter of the municipality does not provide for such office, by an official authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government) not later than 45 days before voting day. The information about electoral precincts formed after the deadline set by Clause 2 of this article shall be published within three days upon their formation by the head of a municipality (or, if the charter of the municipality does not provide for such office, by an official authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government)
8. In the case of electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation the matters connected with the publication of the information about electoral precincts specified in Clause 7 of this article shall be dealt with by the heads of relevant diplomatic or consular missions of the Russian Federation, with due regard to the local conditions.
1. Voters lists shall be prepared by relevant election commissions separately for each electoral precinct in accordance with the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
2. A territorial election commission shall prepare voters lists not later than 26 days before voting day on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of a municipality (if the charter of the municipality does not provide for such office - by a person authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government), the commander of a military unit, the head of an institution where voters are temporarily staying.
3. The voters list for an electoral precinct formed in a hard-to-reach or remote area shall be prepared by a precinct election commission not later than 25 days before voting day and, in exceptional cases, not later than on the day of the formation of a precinct election commission, on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of a municipality (if the charter of the municipality does not provide for this office - by a person authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government).
4. In an electoral precinct formed on the territory of a military unit the list of voters - servicemen serving in the military unit, members of their families and other voters, if they reside within the territory of the military unit, shall be prepared by a precinct election commission not later than 25 days before voting day, on the basis of the voter data to be furnished by the commander of the military unit.
5. The voters list for an electoral precinct formed in places of temporary stay of voters (hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where suspects and defendants are held in custody and other places of temporary stay), on a ship at sea on voting day or at a polar station shall be prepared by a relevant precinct election commission not later than the day preceding voting day on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of the institution where voters are staying temporarily, the captain of the ship or the head of the polar stations.
6. The voters list for an electoral precinct formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation shall be prepared by a relevant precinct election commission on the basis of applications of citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside outside the territory of the Russian Federation or stay abroad on long business trips, in accordance with Clause 4, Article 16 of this Federal Law.
7. The voter data shall be collected and corrected by the officials indicated in Clauses 2 to 5 of this article, in the procedure established by the «Regulation on the State System for Registration of Voters, Referendum Participants» and shall be submitted to territorial election commissions not later than 60 days before voting day, and, if the voters list is to be prepared by a precinct election commission, to such precinct election commissions immediately upon their formation.
8. The voters list shall be prepared in duplicate. Voter data for voters included in the voters list shall be arranged in an alphabetical or some other order (by populated centers, streets, houses, flats). The list must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of voters, the year of birth (for the age of 18 years - also the date and month of birth), the address of the voter's place of residence. Blank spaces shall be left in the voters list for the voter to write the series and number of his passport or an equivalent identity document and sign for each received ballot, for the signature of a member of a precinct election commission who issued the ballot (ballots) to the voter and for entering the summary data for the election of deputies of the State Duma both in a single-seat electoral district and in the federal electoral district.
9. In the preparation of voters lists use may be made of the state automated information system. The first copy of the voters list shall be made in a machine-printed form, the second copy in a machine-readable form. In exceptional cases voters lists may be made in a hand-written form.
10. The first copy of the voters list prepared in accordance with the requirements of Clause 2 of this article shall be handed over to a relevant precinct election commission on the basis of a transfer certificate not later than 25 days before voting day. The second, machine-readable copy of the voters list shall be kept by a territorial election commission and shall be used as prescribed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The voters list shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission and certified by the commission's seal.
11. The voters list for the electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 4 to 6, Article 14 of this Federal Law shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission and certified by the commission's seal.
12. A precinct election commission may divide the first copy of the voters list into separate books preserving the consecutive numeration of the voters list. Not later than the day preceding voting day each such book shall be stitched and certified by the seal of the given precinct commission and the signature of its chairman.
13. Having received the voters list a precinct election commission shall check and update the list on the basis of personal applications from citizens made in accordance with Article 17 of this Federal Law, relevant documents of the bodies of local self-government, officials, registries, bodies in charge of registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their residence and stay within the Russian Federation, messages from the higher election commission about inclusion of voters in the voters list in some other electoral precinct. The checked and updated voters list with the indication of the quantity of separate stitched books shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct election commission and certified by the commission's seal not later than the day preceding voting day.
14. The persons furnishing voter data shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the data and its timely submission.
1. All citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to an active electoral right in accordance with Article 4 of this Federal Law shall be included in voters lists, save as otherwise provided by Clause 4 of this article.
2. A citizen shall be included in the voters list in a concrete electoral precinct on the basis of the fact that his place of residence is located on the territory of this electoral precinct as established by the bodies in charge of registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay or residence within the Russian Federation in accordance with the federal law regulating the procedure for the exercise by the citizens of the Russian Federation of the right to the freedom of movement, choice of the place of stay or residence within the Russian Federation.
3. Servicemen who live outside the territory of a military unit shall be included in the voters lists at the place of their residence on the usual terms. Servicemen serving in a military unit, members of their families and other voters living within the territory of a military unit shall be included in the voters list on the basis of the fact that their place of residence is located within the territory of the military unit as established by the relevant service of the military unit or bodies in charge of the registration of citizens of the Russian Federation at the place of their stay or residence within the Russian Federation, or on the basis of an order of the commander of the military unit whereby conscripts were enrolled in the military unit.
4. Citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside outside the territory of the Russian Federation or stay abroad on long business trips shall be included in voters lists on the basis of their written applications to be submitted not later than the day preceding voting day or an oral application made to a precinct election commission when the voter comes to the premises of this precinct election commission on voting day.
5. Voters - full-time students with their registered place of residence being in a hostel (where the educational establishment is located) shall be included in the voters lists at the place where the hostel (educational establishment) is located.
6. Voters staying on voting day in hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where suspects and defendants are held in custody and other places of temporary stay shall be included in the voters list on the basis of a passport, an equivalent identity document and an absentee certificate for voting at the election of deputies of the State Duma (hereafter «absentee certificate»). Voters at the place of temporary stay, who work at enterprises with a continuous operating cycle as well as servicemen who stay outside the area where their units are stationed, if they were unable to receive an absentee certificate, may be included in the voters list by the decision of a precinct election commission on the basis of a personal written application to be submitted to a territorial or precinct election commission not later than seven days before voting day.
7. Citizens of the Russian Federation who have been granted the status of forced migrants or have applied to the federal body of executive power dealing with the problems of migration or to the territorial agencies of this body for the status of forced migrants shall be included in the voters list at the place of their temporary residence on the basis of a passport or an equivalent identity document and relevant documents issued by the these authorities.
8. Citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to an active electoral right and are staying abroad at private invitations, on official and business trips and as tourists shall be included in the voters on the basis of an oral application list when they come to the premises of a precinct election commission, upon production of a passport or an equivalent identity document and an absentee certificate. Such citizens, who were unable to receive an absentee certificate, shall be included by a precinct election commission in the voters list on the basis of an oral application to be made when they come to the premises of a precinct election commission to vote on voting day.
9. Voters who settled down on the territory of an electoral precinct after the voters list had been made available to voters for inspection, as well as voters who were not included in the voters list for any other reason shall be additionally put on the voters list by a precinct election commission on the basis of a passport or an equivalent identity document and, if necessary, the documents confirming that the voter's place of residence is located on the territory of the given electoral precinct.
10. A voter may be included in a voters list only in one electoral precinct.
11. After the voters list has been signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission a citizen may be removed from the voters list only on the basis of official documents or when an absentee certificate is issued to the voter in a procedure set forth in this Federal Law. In this case, the date when the citizen was removed from the voters list and the reasons therefor shall be indicated in the voters list. This note shall be certified by the signature of the chairman of a precinct election commission and, when an absentee certificate is issued, by the signature of the member of the election commission who issued the certificate.
12. No alterations shall be made in voters lists after the end of voting and commencement of vote counting.
1. A precinct election commission shall make the voters lists available to voters for inspection and additional correction not later than 20 days before voting day.
2. A Russian Federation citizen entitled to an active electoral right may state to a precinct election commission that he has not been put on the voters list and inform the commission about any error or inaccuracy in his data entered in the voters list. Within 24 hours and, on voting day, within two hours after such statement is made and not later than the time when voting ends, a precinct election commission shall check the statement and the submitted documents and shall either correct the error or inaccuracy or give the voter a written answer indicating the reasons why the statement was rejected.
3. The decision of a precinct election commission to include or not to include a citizen in the voters list may be appealed in the higher election commission or in a court (at the place where the precinct election commission is located) and these bodies must consider the complaint (statement) within three days or immediately, if the complaint was filed within three days before or on voting day. In the event of a decision in favor of the applicant, a precinct election commission shall immediately make the necessary correction in the voters list.
4. Each Russian Federation citizen may inform a precinct election commission of changes in the voter data entered in the voters list of the given electoral precinct in accordance with Clause 8, Article 15 of this Federal Law.
1. The election of deputies of the State Duma shall be prepared and conducted by:
the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects;
district election commissions;
territorial (rayon, city and other) election commissions;
precinct election commissions.
2. The powers and working procedures of election commissions for the election of deputies of the State Duma (hereafter «election commissions») are laid down by the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum,» this Federal Law and other federal laws.
3. At the election of deputies of the State Duma the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be superior to all election commissions.
4. An election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall be the higher election commission in respect of the district, territorial and precinct election commissions acting on the territory of the given Russian Federation subject, a precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation and territorial election commissions formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directing the activity of the said precinct election commissions.
5. A district election commission shall be the higher election commission in respect of the territorial and precinct election commissions acting on the territory of the given single-seat electoral district, the precinct election commissions formed in the electoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation and territorial election commissions formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directing the activity of the said precinct election commissions.
6. A territorial election commission shall be the higher election commission in respect of any precinct election commission acting in the given territory. A territorial election commission formed in accordance with Clause 2 or 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directing the activity of precinct election commissions formed in electoral precincts on ships, at polar stations, outside the territory of the Russian Federation, shall be the higher election commission in respect of the said precinct election commission.
7. Decisions of the higher election commission taken within the scope of its competence shall be binding on the lower election commissions.
8. Acting within the scope of their competence election commissions shall consider complaints which they receive in the course of the election campaign concerning violations of this Federal Law, other federal laws as regards preparation and conduct of the election, check these complaints and give written answers to the complainants within five days, but not later than the day preceding voting day or, on voting day and the day which follows voting day, immediately. If the facts cited in the complaints require additional verification, decisions thereon shall be taken within ten days. If the complaint mentions a violation of the law committed by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc, then the candidate, political party, electoral bloc or their authorized representatives shall be immediately notified of receipt of such complaint. The candidate or his authorized representative, authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc may provide explanations on the substance of the complaint. Should a candidate, political party, electoral bloc violate this Federal Law a relevant election commission may issue a warning to this candidate, political party, electoral bloc, which shall be made known to voters through the mass media or by other means.
9. Election commissions may apply to law enforcement authorities, in particular in connection with the complaints mentioned in Clause 8 of this article, for conducting the necessary investigation and stopping violations of this Federal Law, other federal laws as regards the preparation and conduct of the election. The law enforcement authorities shall take measures prescribed by law to stop such violations and shall inform the election commission, which made the application, of the results within five days or immediately, if such application was made five or less than five days before voting day but not later than the day preceding voting day, on voting day and on the day which follows voting day. If the facts cited in the application require additional verification, such measures shall be taken within ten days.
10. Election commissions shall inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions and the progress of the election campaign, about the political parties and electoral blocs which nominated lists of candidates.
11. A decision of an election commission which conflicts with federal laws or which has been taken in excess of the commission's competence shall be revoked by the higher election commission or a court. In this case, the higher election commission shall be entitled to take a decision on the substance of the matter or return the documents in question for re-consideration to the election commission whose decision was revoked.
12. State bodies, state institutions and organizations and their officials shall assist election commissions in the exercise of their powers. In particular, they shall, free of charge, provide the necessary premises, including premises for safekeeping of electoral documentation before it is handed over to archives or destroyed upon the expiry of the safekeeping periods established by Russian Federation laws, make arrangements for guarding the said premises and documentation and supply transport and communication facilities, technical equipment.
13. Organizations with a charter capital in which the state and/or municipality holds a stake exceeding 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election, the bodies of local self-government and their officials shall assist election commissions in the exercise of their powers and, in particular, they shall provide transport and communications facilities, technical equipment, premises, including premises for safekeeping of electoral documentation before it is handed over to archives or destroyed upon the expiry of the safekeeping periods established by Russian Federation laws, make arrangements for guarding the said premises and documentation.
14. The state and municipal organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting as well as editorial offices of state and municipal print media shall provide election commissions with free air time for information of voters in the procedure, established by this Federal Law, other federal laws, and with free space in print media for the publication of decisions and acts or election commissions, other information. In this case the expenditures of these organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting and of these editorial offices of the print media shall be covered in 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.»
15. State bodies, bodies of local self-government, public associations, organizations of all forms of ownership, including organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting (hereafter «TV and radio broadcasting organizations»), editorial offices of print media and the officials of these bodies and organizations shall provide election commissions with the necessary information and materials and shall respond to the applications of election commissions within five days or, during five and less than five days before and on voting day, immediately. Such information and materials shall be provided to election commissions free of charge.
The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects shall be formed in accordance with the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.»
1. A district election commission shall be formed in each single-seat electoral district.
2. A district election commission shall consist of 8 to 14 voting members and shall be formed not later than 80 days before voting day by the election commission of a Russian Federation subject in whose territory the given electoral district is located, in accordance with the general conditions for the formation of election commissions and the procedure for the formation of district election commissions for the elections to federal bodies of state power, 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.» The election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall establish the period for receipt of proposals concerning the composition of the district election commission. This period shall not be less than ten days. The decision of the election commission of a Russian Federation subject which establishes this period shall be published.
3. If the election commission of a Russian Federation subject has not appointed all or some of members of the district election commission within the period established by Clause 2 of this article, the formation of the district election commission or appointment of some of its members shall be carried out by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in compliance with the requirements of this Federal Law.
4. If a Russian Federation subject has only one single-seat electoral district, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may decide that a district election commission need not be formed. In this case the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall confer the powers of a district election commission on the election commission of the given Russian Federation subject.
1. The powers of territorial election commissions for the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be exercised by territorial election commissions formed in accordance with the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» or the election commissions of municipalities vested with the powers of territorial election commissions. If there is no such territorial election commission in some territory, it shall be formed in accordance with the said Federal Law not later than 35 days from the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election. In this case, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall establish a period for receipt of proposals on the membership of a territorial election commission, which shall not be less than one month. The decision of the election commission of a Russian Federation subject establishing this period shall be published.
2. The election commission of a Russian Federation subject may form one or several territorial commissions to direct the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma carried out by precinct election commissions formed on ships and at polar stations.
3. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may form one or several territorial commissions to direct the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma carried out by precinct election commissions formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation.
4. The territorial election commissions indicated in Clauses 2 and 3 of this article shall be formed in accordance with the general conditions for the formation of election commissions and the procedure for the formation of territorial election commissions 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.»
1. A precinct election commission shall be formed not earlier than 30 days and not later than 28 days before voting day by the higher territorial election commission in accordance with the general conditions for the formation of election commissions and the procedure for the formation of precinct election commissions 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» with the following number of members, depending on the number of voters registered on the territory of the electoral precinct:
for up to 1000 voters - 3 to 7 voting members of the election commission;
for 1001 to 2000 voters - 5 to 11 voting members of the election commission;
over 2000 voters - 5 to 15 voting members of the election commission;
2. If voting day at the election of deputies of the State Duma coincides with voting day at the election of bodies of state power of Russian Federation subjects, bodies of local self-government, voting day at a referendum of a Russian Federation subject, local referendum the maximum number of voting members of a precinct election commission indicated in Clause 1 of this article may be increased but by not more than four members. Additional labor remuneration for these members of the election commission and compensation for a period during which they were relieved from their main job shall be paid to them out of the relevant budget.
3. Territorial election commission shall establish a period for receipt of proposals for the membership of a precinct election commission. This period shall be not less than 15 days. The decision of a territorial election commission establishing this period shall be published.
4. In an electoral precinct formed at a polar station, on a ship at sea or on the territory of a military unit stationed in an isolated locality far from populated centers, in a hard-to-reach or remote area members of a precinct election commission shall be appointed within the period established by Clause 1 of this article and, in exceptional cases, not later than three days before voting day.
5. In an electoral precinct formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation a precinct election commission shall be formed within the period established by Clause 1 of this article by the head of a relevant diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation or by the commander of a military unit stationed outside the territory of the Russian Federation.
1. A political party, an electoral bloc which have nominated a federal list of candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may, from the day of submission of the documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation for the registration of the federal list of candidates, appoint one non-voting member to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, all election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects, all district, territorial, precinct election commission.
2. A candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district may, from the day of submission of registration documents to the district election commission, appoint one non-voting member to the given district election commission as well as to all territorial and precinct election commissions of the single-seat electoral district in which the candidate has been nominated.
3. A political party, an electoral bloc which do not fall within Clause 1 of this article and which have nominated a registered candidate (registered candidates) in a single-seat electoral district also may appoint one non-voting member to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject.
4. Persons occupying elective offices, holding command posts in military units, military organizations and institutions, judges, prosecutors shall not be appointed as non-voting members of election commissions
5. A non-voting member of an election commission shall have the same rights as voting members with regard to the matters relating to the preparation and conduct of the election, save the right to
(1) issue and sign ballots and absentee certificates;
(2) participate in sorting out, counting and canceling ballots,
(3) complete the protocol of vote returns, election results;
(4) participate in the voting on the matters which are within the competence of the given election commission, and sign decisions of the election commission.
The provisions of this clause shall not be used as a reason for refusing a non-voting member of an election commission the right to be present at the performance of actions indicated in this clause.
6. A non-voting member of an election commission shall be entitled to:
(1) receive timely notices of meetings of the election commission;
(2) speak at meetings of the election commission, make proposals on matters within the competence of the given election commission and request that these matters be put to the vote;
(3) put questions to other participants in the meetings of the election commission in accordance with the meeting agenda and receive meaningful answers to these questions;
(4) inspect any documents and materials (including voters lists, signature sheets, financial reports of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, ballots) directly connected with the election, including documents and materials of the given commission and lower election commissions, recorded on machine-readable media, and receive copies of these documents and materials (with the exception of ballots, absentee certificates, voters lists, signature sheets, other documents and materials containing confidential information classified as such in the procedure established by law) and request that these copies be certified;
(5) make sure that the number of voters who took part in the voting has been calculated correctly according to the voters list and that the ballots have been correctly sorted out in accordance with candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(6) appeal decisions and actions (omissions) of the election commission in the higher commission and in a court.
7. Non-voting members of an election commission shall be issued with certificates of the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
8. The powers of a non-voting member of an election commission may be terminated at any time during the term of these powers by a decision of the person or body that appointed this member of the election commission and such powers may be transferred to another person by a decision of the person or body that appointed the given member of the election commission.
9. Deputies of the State Duma elected in single-seat electoral districts and political parties, electoral blocs whose lists of candidates were included in the distribution of deputy seats shall, during the term of office of the deputy (deputies), be entitled to appoint non-voting members of an election commission operating on a permanent basis, in particular to fill vacancies.
1. The work of election commissions shall be organized in accordance with Article 28 of the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.»
2. During the period of the election campaign national state TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall, free of charge, allocate not less than 15 minutes of air time to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall allocate not less than 10 minutes of free air time to the election commissions of Russian Federation subjects and not less than 5 minutes of free air time to district election commissions weekly, on each of their channels, for clarifying electoral laws, informing voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, about candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, about the progress of the election campaign and for responding to questions of voters. In addition to this, national state TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall allocate not less than 10 minutes of free air time for these purposes to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation weekly, on each of their channels, in the period which begins 90 days before the expiry of the period in which the election of deputies of the State Duma must be called and ends on the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election.
3. During the period of the election campaign the editorial offices of national state print media coming out at least once a week shall, free of charge, allocate not less than 1/100th of their weekly space to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. During the period of the election campaign the editorial offices of regional state print media coming out at least once a week shall, free of charge, allocate not less than 1/100th of their weekly space to election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects and not less than 1/200th of their weekly space to district election commissions. Election commissions shall use this space for clarifying electoral laws, informing voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, about candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, about the progress of the election campaign and for responding to questions of voters.
The status of voting members of election commissions and the status of non-voting members of election commissions is established by Article 29 of the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» and Article 23 of this Federal Law.
During the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, acting within the scope of its powers established by federal laws, shall:
(1) direct the activities of election commissions;
(2) exercise control over the observance of electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation during the preparation and conduct of the election and ensure uniform application of this Federal Law;
(3) prepare a scheme of single-seat electoral districts and submit it to the State Duma for its consideration in the established procedure; in the case provided by Sub-clause 2, Clause 8, Article 12 of this Federal Law approve the scheme of single-seat electoral districts;
(4) when determining the scheme of single-seat electoral districts deal with the question of inclusion of voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation in relevant single-seat electoral districts;
(5) issue instructions and other regulations on the questions connected with the application of this Federal Law;
(6) render legal, methodological, organizational and technical assistance to election commissions;
(7) direct the activity of election commissions to ensure the uniform use of the state automated information system and separate technical facilities of this system, including technical facilities for vote counting;
(8) register electoral blocs;
(9) certify federal lists of candidates and lists of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts by political parties, electoral blocs;
(10) register federal lists of candidates nominated by political parties, electoral blocs;
(11) publish the registered federal lists of candidates;
(12) register agents, authorized representatives for financial matters of political parties, electoral blocs;
(13) issue certificates of an established form to candidates registered in the federal electoral district, agents of political parties, electoral blocs;
(14) ensure that the conditions of election activities established by this Federal Law, other federal laws should be observed for all candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(15) hear the information of the federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of Russian Federation subjects and bodies of local self-government on the matters relating to the preparation and conduct of the election;
(16) establish unified numeration of electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation;
(17) determine the form of ballots, voters lists and other electoral documents and make arrangements for their production;
(18) determine the form of the absentee certificate and make arrangements for printing of absentee certificates and delivery thereof to election commissions of Russian Federation subjects;
(19) approve the Russian text of the ballot for voting in the federal electoral district;
(20) approve samples of seals of election commissions;
(21) approve the procedure for safekeeping of electoral documents, their transfer to archives and their disposal upon the expiry of their safekeeping periods and agree this procedure with the Federal Archive Service of the Russian Federation;
(22) distribute the funds allocated from the federal budget for funding the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma, the activities of election commissions and exercise of their powers, operation and development of the automation facilities, training of election officials and education of voters; exercise control over the proper use of the said funds as well as the money contributed to the electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(23) take measures to ensure a uniform procedure for distribution of air time and space in print media between registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs for election campaigning;
(24) develop standard quotas of the technical equipment required for the work of territorial and precinct election commissions, approve these standard quotas and exercise control over compliance therewith;
(25) deal with the matters connected with the logistical support of the election;
(26) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, the progress of the election campaign, the political parties, electoral blocs;
(27) consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of the election commissions of Russian Federation subjects and their officials, about decisions of district election commissions to register (or not to register) candidates, and adopt reasoned decisions thereon;
(28) determine which of the registered candidates on the federal lists of candidates nominated by political, parties, electoral blocs have been elected deputies of the State Duma in the federal electoral district and issue certificates of election to them;
(29) establish the general results of the election of deputies of the State Duma for the whole of the Russian Federation and arrange for their official publication;
(30) prepare the lists of persons elected deputies of the State Duma and hand over these lists and the necessary documents to the State Duma;
(31) call and organize the repeat election of deputies of the State Duma and election of deputies of the State Duma to fill vacated seats (by-election);
(32 exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law and the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.»
1. The election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall:
(1) coordinate the activities of election commissions on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;
(2) ensure interaction between the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation subject;
(3) exercise control over observance of electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;
(4) ensure that the conditions of election activities established by this Federal Law, other federal laws should be observed on the territory of the Russian Federation subject for all candidates, registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(5) take measures to distribute air time and space in print media between registered candidates, regional groups of candidates;
(6) exercise control over compliance with the maximum limit of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a candidate, established by Clause 11, Article 66 of this Federal Law, when the candidate forms electoral funds in several electoral districts at different elections in accordance with this Federal Law and the laws of the Russian Federation subject
(7) ensure the uniform use of the state automated information system on the territory of the Russian Federation subject in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(8) form district election commissions and appoints their chairmen;
(9) in accordance with the decisions of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation arrange for the printing of ballots for the federal electoral district and single-seat electoral districts formed on the territory of the Russian Federation subject and make arrangements for the delivery thereof to district and territorial election commissions;
(10) make arrangements for the delivery of absentee certificates, other electoral documents to the lower election commissions;
(11) distribute funds allocated to it for funding the preparation and conduct of the election in the Russian Federation subject, in particular, distribute a part of these funds between district and territorial election commissions and exercise control over the proper use of these funds and over contribution of money to and its expenditure from the electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;
(12) establish unified numeration of electoral precincts on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;
(13) ensure compliance with the standard quotas of the technological equipment approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and compliance with the procedure for safekeeping of electoral documents, their transfer to archives and their disposal upon the expiry of their safekeeping periods;
(14) exercise control over compliance with the uniform procedure for vote-counting, determination of vote returns and election results on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;
(15) hear the information of the bodies of executive power of the Russian Federation subject and bodies of local self-government on the matters relating to the preparation and conduct of the election;
(16) consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of district election commissions and their officials in the given Russian Federation subject and, if the election commission of the Russian Federation subject has been vested with the powers of a district election commission, consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of territorial election commissions and their officials in the given Russian Federation subject, adopt reasoned decisions thereon;
(17) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, the progress of the election campaign, the candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(18) exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law and the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.»
.
1. The district election commission shall:
(1) exercise control over compliance with this Federal Law on the territory of the electoral district;
(2) coordinate the activities of territorial and precinct election commissions, consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of territorial election commissions and their officials and adopt reasoned decisions thereon;
(3) advise the participants in the electoral process about the information to be submitted by candidates nominated in the given single-seat electoral districts, publish information about registered candidates;
(4) register candidates in the given single-seat electoral district and their agents, issue certificates of a standard form to candidates and their agents, register authorized representatives of candidates for financial matters;
(5) ensure that the conditions of election activities established by this Federal Law, other federal laws should be observed on the given territory for all candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(6) ensure that the state automated information system should be used on the territory of the electoral district in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(7) hear the information of the bodies of executive power of the Russian Federation subject and bodies of local self-government on the matters relating to the preparation and conduct of the election;
(8) exercise control over compliance of participants in the electoral process with the procedures and rules of election campaigning;
(9) exercise control over the proper use of funds allocated to it for the preparation and conduct of the election and over contribution of money to and its expenditure from electoral funds of candidates;
(10) approve the text of the ballot for voting in the single-seat electoral district and, subject to a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, arrange for the printing of ballots for voting in the single-seat electoral district;
(11) make arrangements for the delivery of ballots for voting in the federal electoral district and the single-seat electoral district to territorial election commissions in the cases provided by this Federal Law;
(12) make arrangements for the delivery of absentee certificates, other electoral documents to the lower election commissions in the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;;
(13) exercise control over compliance with the uniform procedure for vote-counting, determination of vote returns and election results on the territory of the electoral district;
(14) determine election results for the single-seat electoral district and vote returns for the federal electoral district and forward the information concerning the election results for the single-seat electoral district and the vote returns for the federal electoral district on the given territory to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, publish summary election results and the data contained in the protocols of vote returns submitted by the lower election commissions in accordance with the procedure and within time limits established by this Federal Law;
(15) issue a certificate of election to the registered candidate elected to the State Duma in the given single-seat electoral district;
(16) supervise the provision of territorial and precinct election commissions with premises, transport and communication facilities and check implementation of the decisions taken by election commissions on the other matters connected with the logistical support of the election;
(17) ensure compliance with the standard quotas of the technological equipment, procedures for safekeeping of electoral documents, their transfer to archives and their disposal upon the expiry of the safekeeping period of these documents, approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
(18) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, the progress of the election campaign, the candidates.
(19) conduct the repeat election and by-election to the State Duma
(20) exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law.
2. The term of powers of the district election commission shall expire on the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation.
1. A territorial election commission shall:
(1) supervise the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma in the given territory;
(2) form precinct election commissions and appoint their chairmen;
(3) coordinate the work of precinct election commissions in the given territory, consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of these election commissions and adopt reasoned decisions thereon;
(4) hear the information of bodies of local self-government on the matters connected with the preparation and conduct of the election;
(5 prepare voters lists for the given territory, separately for each precinct, save as otherwise provided by Clauses 3 to 6, Article 15 of this Federal Law;
(6) distribute funds allocated to it for the preparation and conduct of the election and, among other things, distribute a part of these funds between precinct election commissions and exercise control over their proper use;
(7) together with the district election commission ensure that the conditions of election activities established by this Federal Law, other federal laws should be observed on the given territory for all candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(8) exercise control over compliance of participants in the electoral process with the procedures and rules of election campaigning;
(9) ensure that the state automated information system should be used on the given territory in accordance with the procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(10) make arrangements for the delivery of ballots and other electoral documents to precinct election commissions;
(11) issue absentee certificates to voters;
(12) render organizational and technical assistance to precinct election commissions in the conduct of voting at polling stations;
(13) exercise control over compliance with the uniform procedure for vote-counting, determination of vote returns and election results on the given territory;
(14) determine the vote returns for the given territory, present these returns to members of the press and deliver the protocols of vote returns to the district election commission;
(15) ensure safekeeping of documents relating to the preparation and conduct of the election and their transfer to the higher election commission or to the archives in accordance with the procedure approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, dispose of electoral documents after the expiry of their safekeeping periods;
(16) ensure compliance with the standard quotas of the technological equipment approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(17) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoral actions, the progress of the election campaign, the candidates.
(18) exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law.
2. Territorial election commissions formed in the cases provided by Clauses 2 and 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law shall have powers indicated in Clause 1 of this article, save the powers indicated in Sub-clauses 2, 11 and 17, Clause 1 of this article.
1. A precinct election commission shall:
(1) inform the population about the address and telephone number of the precinct election commission, its working hours, about the day, time and place of voting;
(2) correct the voters list for the given electoral precinct and, in the cases provided by Clauses 3 to 6, Article 15 of this Federal Law, prepare and correct the voters list, arrange for voters to inspect the voters list, consider statements about errors and inaccuracies in the voters list and make required corrections therein;
(3) prepare voting sites, ballot boxes and other equipment;
(4) inform voters about registered candidates, lists of candidates on the basis of the information received from the higher election commission;
(5) exercise control over compliance with the rules for election campaigning on the territory of the electoral precinct;
(6) issue absentee certificates to voters;
(7) organize voting at the polling station on voting day and early voting;
(8) count votes, determine vote returns for the given electoral precinct and deliver the protocols of vote returns to a territorial election commission;
(9) within the scope of its competence consider complaints (applications) about violations of this Federal Law and take reasoned decisions thereon;
(10) ensure safekeeping and transfer of the documents relating to the preparation and conduct of the election in accordance with the procedure approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(11) exercise other powers under this Federal Law
2. The powers of a precinct election commission shall expire ten days after the official publication of the general election results if no complaints (applications) and protests have been received by the higher election commission against decisions and actions (omissions) of the given election commission, which resulted in the violation of the voting and the vote-counting procedure and also if these facts are not being investigated by a court. If the vote returns have been contested, the powers of a precinct election commission shall expire after a court or the higher election commission hands down a final decision on the substance of the complaint (application) or the protest.
1. Members of the higher election commissions, a candidate registered by the given or any higher election commission or his agent or authorized representative for financial matters, the authorized representative or agent of a political party, an electoral bloc which have registered a federal list of candidates or any candidate on the said list may attend all meetings of any election commission and be present when a relevant precinct, territorial election commission is working with voters lists, ballots, absentee certificates, protocols of vote returns. The aforementioned persons shall not need any additional permission to attend the meetings and be present when the election commission is working with the said electoral documents. Election commissions shall provide free access for the aforementioned persons to their meetings and to premises where the commission is counting votes and working with the said electoral documents. Members of the press may also be present at all meetings of election commissions, when they are working with the said electoral documents and counting votes.
2. The election commission shall inform the election commission of the next higher level, each candidate registered in the given single-seat electoral district or his agent or authorized representative for financial matters, the agent or authorized representative of each political party, each electoral bloc which have registered federal lists of candidates about the time when the commission is to hold its meetings or work with the electoral documents listed in Clause 1 of this article.
3. Representatives of the parties concerned may be present at the meetings of election commissions when the commission considers complaints (applications) and may give explanations and submit evidence on the substance of the matter being considered.
4. Election commissions shall inform voters about the results of the registration of candidates, lists of candidates; about biographical and other data of registered candidates which was received by the election commission in accordance with this Federal Law; about vote returns for each registered candidate, federal list of candidates.
5. On voting day and on the days of early voting, from the time a precinct election commission begins its work and until it is notified by the higher election commission about acceptance of the protocols of vote returns and also when votes are recounted, the persons indicated in Clause 1 of this article as well as observers, including foreign (international) observers, may be present at polling stations.
6. Observers, members of the press, foreign (international) observers may be present in other election commissions when these commissions are determining the vote returns, election results, working on the protocols of vote returns, election results and when votes are being recounted.
7. All members of an election commission, the persons indicated in Clause 1 of this article, observers shall be given access to the premises of a precinct election commission of any electoral precinct formed on the territory of a military unit, in a closed administrative-territorial unit, at a hospital, sanatorium, holiday hotel, places where suspects and defendants are held in custody or in other places of a temporary stay as well as to the polling station of the given electoral precinct. .
8. Observers may be appointed by each candidate registered in the given single-seat electoral district, each political party and each electoral bloc which have registered a federal list of candidates, each all-Russia public association registered in accordance with the federal law. Officials holding elective offices, persons directly subordinated to them, judges, prosecutors may not be appointed observers.
9. The powers of an observer shall be certified by written credentials issued by a candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district or his agent, by a political party, an electoral bloc or some other public association represented by the observer. The credentials must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of the observer; address of his place of residence; number of the electoral precinct; name of the election commission (district, territorial, precinct election commission) to which the observer is sent. Provision of any additional information about the observer shall not be required. and the credentials need not be certified by a seal if the observer is appointed by a candidate or his agent. These credentials shall be valid if produced together with a document certifying the identity of the observer. No advance notification about sending of an observer shall be required.
10. The written credentials indicated in Clause 9 of this article may be presented to a precinct election commission in the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article and to a territorial commission or other election commissions - during early voting or in the period from the commencement of voting at polling stations to completion of the work on the protocol of vote returns for the given territory.
11. Two and more representatives of one registered candidate, one political party, one public association shall not simultaneously act as observers on the premises of an election commission or at the polling station. No restrictions other than those imposed by this Federal Law shall be established on the presence of observers on the premises of an election commission or at the polling station; on monitoring of voting and vote counting, preparation of the protocols of vote returns; on the issuance of copies of the protocols of vote returns.
12. The observer may:
(1) inspect voters lists;
(2) be present at the polling station of the given electoral precinct at any time during the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article;
(3) watch ballots being issued to voters;
(4) be present when voters vote outside the polling station;
(5) watch the number of voters on the voters lists, number of ballots issued to voters, number of canceled ballots being counted; watch votes being counted at the polling station from a distance and in the conditions which allow the observer to see the marks made on the ballots by voters; inspect any marked and unmarked ballot when votes are being counted; watch the election commission preparing the protocol of vote returns and other documents during the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article;
(6) make proposals and remarks concerning the organization of voting to the chairman of a precinct election commission or, in his absence, to a person acting for him/her;
(7) inspect the protocols of vote returns, election results of the election commission to which the observer has been sent and of the lower election commissions and the documents attached to these protocols; receive from the election commission certified copies of the said protocols, of the documents attached thereto and of other documents received or prepared by the election commission in the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article, including a copy of the list of persons present at the voting, or make copies of the said documents by himself and have these copies certified by the election commission.
(8) appeal decisions and actions (omissions) of a precinct election commission, other election commissions in the election commission of the next higher level or a court;
(9) be present when votes are being recounted by the election commission.
13. The observers shall not:
(1) issue ballots to voters;
(2) sign for a voter for receipt of ballots even when asked to do so by the voter;
(3) mark ballots for a voter even when asked to do so by the voter;
(4) do anything that may violate the secrecy of voting;
(5) directly participate in the counting of ballots together with the voting members of the election commission;
(6) do anything that may interfere with the work of the election commission;
(7) conduct election campaigning among voters;
(8) participate in the adoption of decisions by the election commission.
14. Members of the press shall be entitled to examine the decisions and the protocols of vote returns and election results of all election commissions, make or receive from the election commission copies of the said decisions and protocols and of documents attached thereto. At the request of members of the press the election commission shall certify a copy of its decision, copies of its protocols of vote returns, election results.
15. Copies of the protocols and of other documents of election commissions shall be certified by the chairman, or the deputy chairman, or the secretary of the election commission. The aforementioned persons shall write «This is a true copy» on the copy being certified, sign the copy, write their surname and initials, indicate the date and time of certification and affix the seal of the given election commission.
16. Non-voting members of election commissions, observers, members of the press present at the voting and at vote counting in precinct election commissions may wear ID cards free from any election propaganda, which show their status and full name, the full name of the registered candidate or the name of the political party, electoral bloc that nominated the non-voting member of the election commission, the full name of the registered candidate, the name of the political party, electoral bloc, public association that have sent the observer to the election commission and, in the case of members of the press, the name of the organization which they represent.
1. Foreign (international) observers shall receive a permission for entry into the Russian Federation in accordance with the procedure established by the federal law and, if they have an appropriate invitation, shall be accredited by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
2. Invitations may be extended by the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation after the official publication of a decision to call the election. Applications for invitations may be made by international and national government and non-government organizations and private persons that enjoy high prestige in the field of the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms. The State Duma shall extend invitations in accordance with the proposals of each political party, each electoral bloc whose federal lists were included in the distribution of deputy seats.
3. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall issue a foreign (international) observer with an identity card of an established form on the basis of the documents to be presented by the observe to confirm that he has been invited by one of the bodies or persons listed in Clause 2 of this article. This identity card shall allow the foreign (international) observer to carry on his activity during the preparation and conduct of the election.
4. The activity of foreign (international) observers shall be regulated by this Federal Law, other federal laws.
5. The term of powers of a foreign (international) observer shall commence from the day when the observer receives accreditation at the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and shall end on the day of the official publication of the general election results.
6. A foreign (international) observer shall carry on his activity independently and by himself. The material and financial support for the activity of a foreign (international) observer shall be provided for the account of the organization which sent the observer or for his own account.
7. During his stay on the territory of the Russian Federation a foreign (international) observer shall be under the patronage of the Russian Federation. Election commissions, federal bodies of state power and bodies of state power of Russian Federation subjects shall render the observe the necessary assistance.
8. After the end of the voting time foreign (international) observers may express their opinion about electoral laws and the preparation and conduct of the election, hold press conferences and apply to the mass media.
9. Foreign (international) observers may meet with candidates and their agents and authorized representatives and with authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs.
10. Foreign (international) observers shall not take advantage of their status to carry on activities unrelated to monitoring the course of the election campaign, the preparation and conduct of the election.
11. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may revoke accreditation of a foreign (international) observer if he violates federal laws or the universally accepted principles and norms of international law.
1. Political parties shall participate in the election of deputies of the State Duma and, among other things, shall nominate lists of candidates in accordance with this Federal Law and the Federal Law «On Political Parties.»
2. The list of political parties which are entitled to participate in the election of deputies of the State Duma under the Law «On Political Parties» and this Federal Law and, among other things, to nominate lists of candidates shall be made up by the federal body authorized to register political parties. At the request of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation this list made up as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within ten days of the day when the request was received. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall forward the list of political parties to the mass media for publication within five days of the day when the list was received.
1. An electoral bloc is a voluntary union formed by two or three political parties included in the list of political parties, indicated in Article 33 of this Federal Law, for joint participation in the election. An electoral bloc may also be a voluntary union formed by one or two political parties, included in the list indicated in Article 33 of this Federal Law, and not more than, respectively, two or one all-Russia public association established in the form of a public organization or public movement whose charter provides for participation in elections. Such all-Russia public associations established in the form of a public organization or public movement, or modifications and amendments to their charters providing for participation in elections shall be registered in accordance with the federal law not later than one year before voting day and, in the event of the early election of deputies of the State Duma, not later than six months before voting day. These time periods shall not apply to other modifications and amendments to the charter of an all-Russia public association.
2. The following all-Russia public associations established in the form of a public organization or public movement shall not be entitled to join electoral blocs:
associations registered in accordance with Russian Federation laws as a trade union, a religious or charity organization, a national-cultural autonomy;
associations whose charters provide that membership therein is based only on the profession, nationality, ethnic origin, race and confession of citizens;
associations whose non-political nature is specially stipulated in the federal law.;
international public associations.
3. The list of all-Russia associations which have been established in the form of a public organization or public movement and meet the requirements of Clauses 1 and 2 of this article shall be made up by the federal justice body. At the request of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation this list made up as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within ten days of the day when the request was received. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall forward the list of all-Russia public associations to the mass media for publication within five days of receipt of the list.
4. A decision to join an electoral bloc, indicating the name (names) of the political party (parties), another all-Russia public association (other all-Russia public associations) with which an electoral bloc is to be formed shall be adopted at the congress (conference) of each of the political parties, each of the all-Russia public associations. After this the authorized representatives of these political parties, other all-Russia public associations shall sign a joint agreement on the formation an electoral bloc.
5. For registration of an electoral bloc its authorized representative shall submit the following documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation:
(1) notarized copies of the Rules of the political parties, charters of the other all-Russia public associations which are comprised in the electoral bloc;
(2) notarized copies of the certificates evidencing entry of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations which are comprised in the electoral bloc in the unified state register of legal entities;
(3) minutes of proceedings of the congresses (conferences) of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations, containing the decision to join the electoral bloc;
(4) an agreement on the formation of an electoral bloc signed by the authorized representatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations and certified by the seals of these political parties, all-Russia public associations;
(5) information about the full name and abbreviated name (consisting of not more than seven words) of the electoral bloc.
6. Electoral blocs shall be registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than five days after submission of the required documents. These documents may be submitted simultaneously with, but not later than, the submission of a joint federal list of candidates and/or a list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts.
7. The reasons for the refusal of registration of an electoral bloc may only be the absence or improper execution of the documents indicated in Clause 5 of this article; the failure of one of or several all-Russia public associations (including political parties) which are comprised in the electoral bloc to meet the requirements of Article 33 of this Federal Law or Clause 2 of this article; the failure to meet the requirements of Clauses 1, 4 and 8 of this article, Clause 3, Article 35 of this Federal Law. An electoral bloc shall not be refused registration if the number of its members is less than that indicated in the decision of the congress (conference) of the political party (political parties), the other all-Russia public association (other all-Russia public associations) on the formation of this electoral bloc, unless no political parities remain in the electoral bloc.
8. Political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in one electoral bloc shall not join other electoral blocs or act independently at the same election of deputies of the State Duma.
9. After an electoral bloc has been registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation it shall not admit any other political parties, other all-Russia public associations as its members.
10. Upon its formation an electoral bloc shall authorize its body or one of political parties in the electoral bloc to act on behalf of the electoral bloc during the election campaign and also during the term of powers of the State Duma of the given convocation should the federal list of candidates nominated by this electoral bloc be included in the distribution of deputy seats.
1. A political party, an electoral bloc shall submit information about their name to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation .
2. The name of a political party shall be the name indicated in its Rules.
3. The name of an electoral bloc shall be determined at the congress (conference) of the representatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations which formed the given bloc. The name of an electoral bloc shall not make use of the name of any registered all-Russia public association which is not a member of this electoral bloc, regardless of whether this public association takes part in the election, or the name of another electoral bloc which has already been registered at the given election. Neither shall an electoral bloc use the name which it used at the previous election of deputies to the State Duma if more than a half of political parties (their legal successors) which were members of the given electoral bloc at the previous election are no longer its members. The use of the first name, surname or pseudonym of a concrete natural person, the name of a state or municipal office in the name of an electoral bloc shall not be allowed.
4. When submitting lists of candidates for certification a political party, an electoral bloc may also submit their emblems to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. A political party may submit the emblem described in its Rules (hereafter «registered emblem») or, in the absence of such emblem, some other emblem. An electoral bloc may submit a registered emblem of any of the political parties comprised in the electoral bloc or some other emblem with the exception of registered emblems of political parties and emblems described in the charters of other all-Russia public associations which are comprised in other electoral blocs or emblems submitted by other electoral blocs at this or previous election of deputies of the State Duma (unless the electoral bloc submitting an emblem is entitled to use the name of such bloc in accordance with Clause 3 of this article). The symbols of a political party, an electoral bloc shall not infringe intellectual property rights, insult or denigrate the National Flag of the Russian Federation, the National Emblem of the Russian Federation, the National Anthem of the Russian Federation, the flags, emblems, anthems of the Russian Federation subjects, municipalities, foreign states, religious symbols and national sentiments and shall not violate the generally recognized moral norms.
5. A political party, an electoral bloc shall agree with the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the abbreviated name (consisting of not more than seven words) and the emblem to be used in electoral documents.
6. The names and emblems of political parties, electoral blocs shall not be changed after they have been submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
1. A political party, an electoral bloc shall appoint representatives authorized, under this Federal Law, to represent the political party, electoral bloc in all matters relating to participation of the political party, electoral bloc in the election of deputies of the State Duma, including financial matters.
2. Authorized representatives shall be appointed by the decision of a congress of a political party, the congress (conference) of the representatives of political parties, other all-Russia public associations which are comprised in the electoral bloc or by the decision of a body authorized to do so by the congress of the political party, congress (conference) of the representatives of the political party, other all-Russia public associations which are comprised in the electoral bloc.
3. An authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc shall act on the basis of the decision indicated in Clause 2 of this article. Such decision must indicate the powers of the authorized representative, his surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, series, number and date of issuance of the passport or an equivalent identity document, place of residence, main place of work or service, position (occupation, if there is no main place of work or service), and, in respect of an authorized representative for financial matters, the right of first or second signature on financial documents and the sample of a seal imprint for financial documents.
4. The list of appointed authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The lists of authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of each authorized representative of the political party, electoral bloc, his date of birth, series, number and date of issuance of the passport or an equivalent identity document, place of residence, main place of work or service, position (occupation, if there is no main place of work or service), telephone number and, in respect of an authorized representative for financial matters, also the fact that he is an authorized representative for financial matters. This list shall be accompanied by a written consent of each of the listed persons to act in this capacity.
5. Authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc for financial matters shall be subject to registration by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
6. Subject to the decision of the body of a political party, an electoral bloc authorized to take such decisions the political party, electoral bloc may at any time terminate the powers of an authorized representative by serving written notice to this effect on this representative and sending a copy of the relevant decision to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. .
7. Authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs who occupy state or municipal offices shall not take advantage of their office or official position.
8. The term of powers of authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc shall commence from the day of their appointment and expire upon the loss of a candidate's status by all candidates nominated on a list of candidates by the political party, electoral bloc which appointed the authorized representatives but not later than the day of the official publication of the general election results. The term of powers of authorized representatives for financial matters of a political party, an electoral bloc shall expire 60 days after voting day or, if the political party, electoral bloc are involved in a case pending in a court, from the day when the court hands down a final decision.
Political parties, electoral blocs shall participate in the election of deputies of the State Duma on equal conditions in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law.
1. Every citizen of the Russian Federation entitled to a passive electoral right shall have the right to put up his candidature in a single-seat electoral district.
2. A Russian Federation citizen may put up his candidature only in one single-seat electoral district. A candidate who has put up his candidature may not be nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc. If this requirement is violated, the nomination of which the election commission was notified earlier shall be deemed valid, if within 24 hours of receipt of the later notification the candidate does not apply for the withdrawal of the earlier notification
3. A candidate may nominate himself in a single-seat electoral district after the official publication of a decision to call the election but not earlier than the day of the official publication of the scheme of single-seat electoral districts and not later than 30 days after the official publication of the decision to call the election.
4. In the event of the dissolution of the State Duma a candidate may nominate himself in a single-seat electoral district after the official publication of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation calling an early election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation or publication of the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation taken in pursuance of Clause 5, Article 5 of this Federal Law, but not later than five days before the day when the documents for the registration of the candidate are to be submitted to the election commission.
5. At repeat elections and by-elections a candidate may nominate himself in a single-seat electoral district after publication of the decision to call these elections.
6. A Russian Federation citizen who put up his candidature in a single-seat electoral district shall serve written notice of self-nomination to a relevant district electoral commission. The notice must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, address of the place of residence of the candidate. .
7. The following documents shall be submitted to a relevant district election commission simultaneously with the notice indicated in Clause 6 of this article:
(1) the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election in the single-seat electoral district and the obligation, if elected, to discontinue activities incompatible with the status of a deputy of the State Duma. The statement must indicate the biographical data of the candidate: his surname, first name and patronymic; date of birth; address of the place of residence; education; 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 relevant representative body; kind, series, number and date of issuance of the identity paper containing information about the citizenship, address of the place of residence and the name or code of the body which issued this document. If the candidate has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, the statement must also indicate this fact. The statement must indicate the citizenship of the candidate and, if the candidate has Russian Federation citizenship and foreign citizenship, also the foreign citizenship - the name of the foreign state, the date when the foreign citizenship was received and the reasons therefor (hereafter «information about the candidate's foreign citizenship»);
(2) information about the size and sources of income of the candidate, property owned or co-owned by the candidate, bank deposits, securities. The information about the size and sources of income shall be submitted in the form of a copy of the tax declaration of the citizen who is a candidate for the year preceding the year in which the election was called (with a note of the tax authority at the place of submission). If, under Russian Federation laws, the citizen who is a candidate does not have to file a tax declaration, he shall submit the information about his income (including the pension, benefits, other payments) for the year preceding the year in which the election was called from the legal entities and/or natural persons, which/who are tax agents under the federal law, from the organizations making such payments. The information about the property owned by the candidate and other information indicated in this clause shall be submitted in accordance with the form shown in Annex 4 to this Federal Law. If, in the year preceding the year in which the election was called, the candidate did not receive any income and/or does not own any property to be reported in accordance with this clause, this fact must be indicated in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election.
8. In the statement indicated in Clause 7 of this article a self-nominated candidate may mention his membership in not more than one political party registered in the procedure established by the federal law or membership in some other public association registered not later than one year before voting day in the procedure established by law as well his status in this public association provided the candidate submits a document confirming this information and this document is officially certified by a permanent leading body of the given public association. The candidate shall agree an abbreviated name of the given public association (consisting of not more that seven words) with the district election commission.
9. The notice of self-nomination of a candidate and other documents indicated in this article shall be personally submitted by the self-nominated candidate to the district election commission within the period established by Clauses 3 to 5 of this article. At the candidate's request the notice of self-nomination of the candidate and other documents indicated in this article may be submitted by other persons if the candidate is ill, held in custody in places where suspects and defendants are held (in this case the candidate's signature on the statement shall be notarially certified or certified in writing by the administration of the stationary hospital in which the candidate is being treated or the administration of the place of detention where he is held in custody as a suspect or defendant).
10. If the district election commission is not formed at the time of the nomination of a candidate, the notice indicated in Clause 6 of this article, the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election and the other documents indicated in Clause 7 of this article shall be submitted to the election commission of the Russian Federation subject, which performs the functions of a district election commission and processes the submitted documents until the district election commission is formed. The election commission of the Russian Federation subject shall hand over these documents to the district election commission after formation of this district commission and appointment of its chairman.
11. The notice of self-nomination of a candidate and the attached documents shall be accepted by a relevant district election commission upon production of a document certifying the candidate's identity (if the notice is submitted by some other person - upon production of a notarized copy of the document certifying the candidate's identity). In the presence of the candidate the district election commission shall make a copy of the document certifying the candidate's identity. This copy shall be certified by the signature of the person who accepted the notice and shall be attached to the notice. The candidate (other person) shall also present documents which confirm the information contained in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election: information about his education, main place of work or service and position (occupation), information that the candidate is a deputy.
12. A relevant election commission shall issue a written receipt confirming acceptance of the notice indicated in Clause 6 of this article, the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election and other documents indicated in this article to the persons who submitted these documents. This written receipt shall be issued immediately upon submission of these documents.
1. A decision to nominate candidates in single-seat electoral districts shall be taken by a political party at its congress by secret voting in accordance with the Federal Law «On Political Parties» and the Rules of the political party.
2. A political party, an electoral bloc may nominate not more than one candidate in one single-seat electoral district.
3. A decision to nominate candidates in single-seat electoral districts at repeat elections and by-elections may be taken after the official publication of the decision to call these elections by the permanent leading body of a political party, if this body is authorized to do so under the Rules of the party, by the authorized body of an electoral bloc whose federal list of candidates was included in the distribution of deputy seats at the election of deputies of the State Duma, if this is provided for in the agreement on the formation of the electoral bloc.
4. When candidates for single-seat electoral districts are to be nominated by an electoral bloc the candidatures proposed for nomination from the electoral bloc by a political party, other all-Russia public associations shall be supported at a congress (conference) of the political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc by secret voting, in compliance with the other requirements set by the Federal Law «On Political Parties» to the nomination of candidates. The congress (conference) of a political party, other all-Russia public associations shall also appoint representatives authorized to take a decision on the nomination of candidates in single-seat electoral districts at a congress (conference) of the representatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in this electoral bloc. The decision to nominate candidates in single-seat electoral districts from the electoral bloc shall be adopted at the said congress (conference) of the representatives of the political party, other all-Russia public associations.
5. A political party, an electoral bloc shall nominate candidates in single-seat electoral districts within 30 days of the official publication of the decision to call the election, but not earlier than the day of the official publication of the scheme of single-seat electoral districts.
6. In the event of the dissolution of the State Duma nomination of candidates in single-seat electoral districts may be carried out by a political party, an electoral bloc from the day of the official publication of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation calling an early election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation or from the day of the publication of the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation adopted in pursuance of Clause 5, Article 5 of this Federal Law, but not later than 10 days before the day when documents for the registration of a candidate have to be submitted to the district election commission.
7. The decision of the congress (conference) of a political party, an electoral bloc on the nomination of candidates shall be recorded in its minutes (or in the form of some other document), which must indicate:
(1) the number of registered participants in the congress (conference);
(2) the number of participants which is required for adoption of the decision under the Rules of the political party or the agreement on the formation of the electoral bloc;
(3) the decision on the nomination of candidates and the results of the vote taken on this decision (the list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts shall be appended);
(4) the decision on the appointment of authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc;
(5) the date of the decision.
8. The list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts must contain the name and the number of the electoral districts in which each candidate will stand for election. The list of candidates nominated by a political party in single-seat electoral districts shall be signed by the leader of the political party and certified with the party's seal. When candidates in single-seat electoral districts are to be nominated by an electoral bloc the decision of a political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc proposing candidatures to be nominated as candidates from the electoral bloc shall be signed by the leader of this political party, leaders of these other all-Russia public associations and certified with the seal of the political party, the other public associations. The list of candidates nominated by an electoral bloc shall be signed by the authorized representatives of the electoral bloc and certified with the seals of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc
9. Subject to a decision of the duly authorized bodies of a political party, an electoral bloc indicated in the Rules of the political party or designated at its congress, at the congress (conference) of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc the political party, electoral bloc may, not later than 55 days before voting day and with the candidate's consent, change the single-seat electoral district in which the candidate was initially nominated by submitting a written notice to this effect to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and a relevant district election commissions. Subject to a decision of their duly authorized bodies a political party, an electoral bloc may, not later than 55 days before voting day and with the consent of the candidate included in a federal list of candidates, nominate the candidate in any single-seat electoral district by submitting a written notice to this effect to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and a relevant district election commissions and, if this district election commission has not yet been formed, to the election commission of the Russian Federation subject.
10. A political party, an electoral bloc may nominate candidates who are not members of the given political party, other political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc.
1. A decision to nominate a federal list of candidates from a political party shall be taken by secret voting at a congress of the political party.
2. When a federal list of candidates is to be nominated by an electoral bloc the candidatures proposed for nomination on a federal list of candidates of the electoral bloc by a political party, other all-Russia public associations shall be supported at a congress (conference) of the political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc by secret voting in compliance with the other requirements set by the Federal Law «On Political Parties» to the nomination of candidates. The congress (conference) of a political party, other all-Russia public associations shall also appoint representatives authorized to take a decision on the nomination of a federal list of candidates of the electoral bloc at a congress (conference) of the representatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in this electoral bloc. The decision to nominate a federal list of candidates shall be adopted at the said congress (conference) of representatives of the political party, other all-Russia public associations.
3. A political party, an electoral bloc may nominate a federal list of candidates after the official publication of the decision to call the election.
4. In the event of the dissolution of the State Duma nomination of a federal list of candidates may be carried out by a political party, an electoral bloc from the day of the official publication of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation calling an early election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation or from the day of the publication of the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation adopted in pursuance of Clause 5, Article 5 of this Federal Law, but not later than 10 days before the day when documents for the registration of a federal list of candidates have to be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
5. The decision of the congress (conference) of a political party, an electoral bloc on the nomination of a federal list of candidates shall be recorded in its minutes (or in the form of some other document), which must indicate:
(1) the number of registered participants in the congress (conference);
(2) the number of participants which is required for adoption of the decision under the Rules of the political party or the agreement on the formation of the electoral bloc;
(3) the decision on the nomination of candidates and the results of the vote taken on this decision (the federal list of candidates shall be appended);
(4) the decision on the appointment of authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc;
(5) the date of the decision.
6. A political party, an electoral bloc may nominate candidates on a federal list who are not members of the given political party, other political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc.
7. The federal list of candidates nominated by a political party shall be signed by the leader of the political party and certified with the party's seal. When a federal list of candidates is to be nominated by an electoral bloc the decision of a political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc proposing candidates for the inclusion in the federal list of candidates of the electoral bloc shall be signed by the leader of the political party, leaders of other all-Russia public association and certified with the seal of the political party, other all-Russia public association. The federal list of candidates nominated by an electoral bloc shall be signed by the authorized representatives of the electoral bloc and certified with the seals of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc.
8. The composition of a federal list of candidates and the arrangement of candidates on the list shall be determined by a political party, an electoral bloc. In determining the arrangement of candidates on a federal list of candidates a political party, an electoral bloc shall divide the list fully or in part into regional groups of candidates corresponding to the Russian Federation subjects or groups thereof (hereafter «regional groups of candidates»). The regional part of a federal list of candidates must indicate the Russian Federation subject or group of the Russian Federation subjects (listing these Russian Federation subjects) to which each regional group of candidates corresponds and the name of each regional group of candidates consisting of not more than five words. The number of regional groups of candidates shall not be less than seven. The federal part of a federal list of candidates, which contains candidates who are not comprised in the regional groups, may include not more than 18 candidates. A candidate may be mentioned in a federal list of candidates only once.
9. A federal list of candidates may include candidates who are nominated by the same political party, the same political bloc in single-seat electoral districts. .
10. The total number of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in the federal electoral district shall not exceed 270 candidates.
1. The federal list of candidates and the list of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in single-seat electoral districts shall be submitted by an authorized representative of the political party, electoral bloc to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 30 days after the official publication of the decision to call the election. These lists must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, education of the candidate, the name of the Russian Federation subject, raion, city, other populated center where the place of his residence is located, the main place of work or service and position (in the absence of the main place of work or service - occupation) of each candidate (if the candidate is a deputy and exercises his powers on a non-permanent basis - this fact and the name of the relevant representative body), information about convictions and foreign citizenship of the candidates and, at the candidate's request, his membership in not more than one public association registered not later than a year before voting day and his status therein, provided the candidate submits a document confirming this information, which is officially certified by the permanent leading body of this public association. The lists of candidates shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in a printed and a machine-readable form according to the format established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
2. Simultaneously with the lists of candidates indicated in Clause 1 of this article (hereafter «lists of candidates») the authorized representative of a political party shall submit the following documents:
(1) a notarized copy of a document confirming that the political party has been entered in the unified state register of legal entities;
(2) a notarized copy of the Rules of the political party;
(3) a decision (decisions) of the congress of the political party on the nomination of the list (lists) of candidates;
(4) a list of the authorized representatives of the political party with the information about these representatives listed in Clause 3, Article 36 of this Federal Law;
(5) powers of attorney of the authorized representatives of the political party for financial matters duly executed in the procedure established by this Federal Law.
3. The authorized representative of an electoral bloc shall submit the following documents:
(1) minutes of proceedings of the congresses (conferences) of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc with decisions on candidatures proposed for nomination as candidates from the electoral bloc;
(2) a decision (decisions) of the congress (conference) of the representatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised the electoral bloc on the nomination of a list (lists) of candidates by the electoral bloc;
(3) a list of authorized representatives of the electoral bloc with the information about them listed in Clause 3, Article 36 of this Federal Law;
(4) powers of attorney of the authorized representatives of the electoral bloc for financial matters executed in the procedure established by this Federal Law.
4. Simultaneously with the documents indicated in Clauses 1 to 3 of this article the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc shall submit:
(1) in respect of each candidate - the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election in the given electoral district and his obligation, if elected, to discontinue activities incompatible with the status of a deputy of the State Duma. The statement must indicate the biographical data of the candidate: his surname, first name and patronymic; date and place of birth; address of the place of residence; education; 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 relevant representative body; kind, series, number and date of issuance of the identity document containing information about the citizenship, address of the place of residence and the name or code of the body which issued this document. In the statement of consent to stand for election the candidate may mention his membership in not more than one political party registered in the procedure established by the federal law or membership in some other public association registered not later than one year before voting day in the procedure established by law as well as his status in this public association provided the candidate submits a document confirming this information and this document is officially certified by a permanent leading body of the given public association. In this case the candidate shall agree an abbreviated name of the given public association (consisting of not more that seven words) with this public association and with the Central Commission of the Russian Federation. If the candidate has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, the statement shall also indicate the information about the candidate's conviction. The statement must indicate citizenship of the candidate and, if the candidate has Russian Federation citizenship and foreign citizenship, also the information about his foreign citizenship.
(2) In respect of candidates included in a federal list of candidates - the information about the size and sources of the candidate's income and about the property owned and co-owned by the candidate, bank deposits, securities. The information about the size and sources of income shall be submitted in the form of a copy of the tax declaration of the citizen who is a candidate for the year preceding the year in which the election was called (with a note of the tax authority at the place of submission). If, under Russian Federation laws, the citizen who is a candidate does not have to file a tax declaration, he shall submit the certified information about his income (including the pension, benefits, other payments) for the year preceding the year in which the election was called from the legal entities and/or natural persons, which/who are tax agents under the federal law, from the organizations making such payments. The information about the property owned by the candidate and the other information indicated in this clause shall be submitted in accordance with the form shown in Annex 4 to this Federal Law. If, in the year preceding the year in which the election was called, the candidate did not receive any income and/or does not own any property to be reported in accordance with this clause, this fact must be indicated in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election.
5. A candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc may be included only in one federal list of candidates and nominated only in one single-seat electoral district. A candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc shall not put up his candidature by way of self-nomination.
6. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall accept the lists of candidates together with a copy of the document certifying the identity of the candidate and copies of the documents confirming the information indicated in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election about his education, main place or work or service, position (occupation) and the information that the candidate is a deputy. Such certified copies shall be submitted in respect of each candidate included in the list.
7. Within three days the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall consider the submitted documents and issue a certified copy of the federal list of candidates and/or a certified copy of the list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts to the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc, or a reasoned decision to refuse to issue such copies. If an electoral bloc simultaneously submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the documents for its registration as provided by Article 34 of this Federal Law and the lists of candidates, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall consider all submitted documents within five days.
8. The refusal to issue certified lists of candidates to a political party, an electoral bloc may be due to the absence, incompleteness or improper execution of the documents indicated in Clauses 1 to 4 of this article or due to other breaches of the procedure established by Articles 39 and 40 of this Federal Law and Clause 5 of this article for the nomination of candidates.
9. A political party, an electoral bloc may appeal the refusal to issue certified copies of lists of candidates in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, which shall consider the appeal within three days.
10. After a federal list of candidates, a list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts have been submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation no changes shall be made in the composition of the lists and in the order of arrangement of candidates therein, save the changes due to withdrawal of candidates either on the basis of their personal applications, or in consequence of the candidates being recalled by the political party, electoral bloc, or because of the death of a candidate, or due to the circumstances indicated in Clause 9, Article 39 of this Federal Law, or in connection with the removal of a candidate from the list of candidates by a decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
11. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall forward copies of the certified list of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in single-seat electoral districts (certified excerpts from this list) to relevant district election commissions not later than three days after the list was certified.
12. A candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in a single-seat electoral district and included in the list of candidates certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall submit to the district election commission his statement of consent to stand for election in the single-seat electoral district with an obligation, if elected, to discontinue the activities incompatible with the status of a deputy of the State Duma and other information about himself indicated in Sub-clause 1, Clause 4 of this article. A candidate may also submit to the district election commission a copy of the list of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts, certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The submission of these documents shall be regarded as a notice of nomination of the candidate in the single-seat electoral district.
13. Together with the statement of consent to stand for election a candidate shall submit to the district election commission the information about the size and sources of his income and the property owned and co-owned by him, bank deposits, securities. The information about the size and sources of income shall be submitted in the form of a copy of the tax declaration of the citizen who is a candidate for the year preceding the year in which the election was called (with a note of the tax authority at the place of submission). If, under Russian Federation laws, the citizen who is a candidate does not have to file a tax declaration, he shall submit certified information about his income (including the pension, benefits, other payments) for the year preceding the year in which the election was called from the legal entities and/or natural persons, which/who are tax agents under the federal law, from the organizations making such payments. The information about the property owned by the candidate and other information indicated in this clause shall be submitted in accordance with the form shown in Annex 4 to this Federal Law. If in the year preceding the year in which the election was called the candidate did not receive any income and/or does not own any property to be reported in accordance with this clause, this fact must be indicated in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election.
14. If the district election commission has not yet been formed, the documents indicated in Clauses 12 and 13 of this article shall be submitted to the election commission of the Russian Federation subject which performs the functions of a district election commission and processes the submitted documents until the district election commission is formed. The election commission of the Russian Federation subject shall hand over these documents to the district election commission after its formation and appointment of its chairman.
15. The notice of the nomination of a candidate and the attached documents shall be accepted by the district election commission upon production of a document certifying the candidate's identity (if the notice is submitted by some other person - upon production of a notarized copy of the document certifying the candidate's identity). In the presence of the candidate the district election commission shall make a copy of the document certifying the candidate's identity and this copy shall be certified by the signature of the person who accepted the notice and shall be attached to the notice. The candidate (other person) shall also present documents which confirm the information contained in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election: information about his education, main place of work or service and position (occupation), information that the candidate is a deputy.
16. A relevant election commission shall issue a written receipt confirming acceptance of the documents indicated in Clauses 12 and 13 of this article to the persons who submitted these documents. This written receipt shall be issued immediately upon submission of these documents.
17. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall make the certified federal lists of candidates and changes therein readily accessible (in the «read only» mode) to the users of the public information-telecommunication networks. District election commissions or the election commissions of Russian Federation subjects shall ensure access to the information about the candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts and to the changes in this information.
1. Collection of signatures in support of a self-nominated candidate shall commence on the day following the day when a relevant district election commission (election commission of a Russian Federation subject) was notified of the self-nomination in the procedure established by Article 38 of this Federal Law.
2. If signatures are to be collected in support of a candidate, the number of the signatures to be collected shall be not less than one percent of the total number of voters registered on the territory of the given electoral district, or, if the number of voters in the electoral district is less than 100 thousand, not less than one thousand signatures. In the event of an early election, the number of signatures to be collected in support of a candidate shall respectively be 0.5 percent and not less than 500 voter signatures.
3. Signature sheets shall be printed for the account of the candidate's electoral fund, according to the form shown in Annex 1 to this Federal Law. Each signature sheet must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of the candidate; date of birth; main place of work or service and 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 relevant representative body; name of the Russian Federation subject, raion, city, other populated center where the place of residence of the candidate is located; name of the electoral district where he is nominated. If the candidate has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, the signature sheet must indicate the information about the conviction of the candidate. If the candidate has Russian Federation citizenship and foreign citizenship, the signature sheet must indicate the information about the foreign citizenship of the candidate.
4. The signature sheet must also indicate membership of the candidate in the public association, which the candidate indicated in his statement of consent to stand for election in accordance with Clause 8, Article 38 of this Federal Law, and his status in this public association.
5. Signatures may be collected only among the voters of the electoral district in which the candidate was nominated.
1. If a political party, an electoral bloc which nominated candidates in single-seat electoral districts collect voter signatures in support of a candidate among voters of the electoral district in which the candidate was nominated, the number of such signatures to be collected shall be not less than one percent of the total number of voters registered on the territory of the given electoral district or, if the number of voters in the electoral district is less than 100 thousand, not less than one thousand signatures. In the event of an early election, the number of signatures to be collected in support of a candidate shall respectively be 0.5 percent and not less than 500 voter signatures.
2. If a political party, an electoral bloc which nominated a federal list of candidates collect signatures in support of the federal list of candidates, the number of such signatures shall be not less than 200 thousand, with each Russian Federation subject accounting for not more than 14 thousand out of the number of signatures required for registration. In the event of an early election the aforesaid number of signatures shall be reduced by half.
3. A political party, an electoral bloc may commence collection of signatures in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates from the day following the day when a copy of this list of candidates was certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Signature collection shall not be allowed before a copy of the federal list of candidates has been certified. Collection of signatures in support of a candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in a single-seat electoral district shall commence from the day when the documents and information indicated in Clauses 12 and 13, Article 41 of this Federal Law are submitted to the district election commission or the election commission of a Russian Federation subject.
4. Signature sheets shall be printed for the account of a relevant electoral fund according to the form shown in Annexes 2 and 3 to this Federal Law.
5. When signatures are collected in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates, each signature sheet must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic; date of birth; main place of work or service and position (occupation, if there is no main place of work or service); name of the Russian Federation subject, raion, city, other populated center where the place of residence is located for the following candidates: the first three candidates who top the federal part of the federal list of candidates and three candidates who top the regional group of candidates corresponding to the Russian Federation subject (group of Russian Federation subjects) in which signatures are collected. If any one of these candidate has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, the signature sheet must indicate information about the conviction of the candidate. If any one of these candidates has Russian Federation citizenship and foreign citizenship the signature sheet must indicate information about the foreign citizenship of the candidate. If a candidate included in the signature sheet is a deputy and exercises his powers on a non-permanent basis, this fact may be indicated in the signature sheet at the candidate's request together with the name of the relevant representative body. At the request of a candidate included in the signature sheet the signature sheet may indicate his membership in a public association if this fact is mentioned in the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election in accordance with Clause 4, Article 41 of this Federal Law, and the candidate's status in this public association. Each signature sheet must also indicate the name of the Russian Federation subject where signatures are being collected. At the voter's request the person collecting signatures in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates shall produce a copy of the federal list of candidates certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
6. If signatures are collected in support of a candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in a single-seat electoral district, the signature sheet must indicate the information about the candidate listed in Clause 5 of this article and the name of the political party, electoral bloc which nominated this candidate.
1. Participation of bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, governing bodies of organizations of all forms of ownership, institutions, voting members of election commissions in the collection of signatures shall not be allowed. In the course of signature collection it shall be prohibited to force voters to put their signatures or to remunerate them in any form for doing so and collect signatures at work places, when and where wages, pensions, allowances, stipends, other social benefits are paid.
2. Voter signatures may be collected by any legally capable citizen of the Russian Federation who has attained to the age of 18 years by the day of signature collection. A candidate, a political party, an electoral bloc may sign a contract for signature collection with a person collecting voter signatures. Remuneration for this work shall be paid only through the electoral fund of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc.
3. Voter signatures in support of the nomination of candidates, federal lists of candidates may be collected at the place of study, residence and in other places where election campaigning and signature collection are not prohibited by the federal law.
4. A voter may put his signature in support of the nomination different candidates (federal lists of candidates), but only once in support of the same candidate (federal list of candidates). A voter shall put his signature on the signature sheet and write the date, his surname, first name and patronymic, year of birth (if he attains to the age of 18 years on voting day - also the day and month of birth), series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document and the address of the place of residence indicated in the passport or the equivalent document containing information about the address of his place of residence. The voter shall put his signature and write the date with his own hand. At the voter's request the data of the voter who put his signatures and wrote the date on the signature sheet may be entered in the signature sheet by a person collecting signatures in support of the nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidates. All such data shall be written by hand.
5. The signature sheet used for collection of signatures in support of the nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidates may be filled out both on the face and on the back. The back shall be the continuation of the face and all signatures on the signature sheet shall be numbered consecutively. The certifying signatures shall be put on the back of the signature sheet.
6. The signature sheet used for collection of voter signatures in support of a candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district shall be certified by the signature collector and the candidate. The signature collector shall, with his own hand, write his surname, first name and patronymic, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document, the date of its issuance and the name or code of the issuing body, address of the place of residence; sign the signature sheet and write the date. The candidate shall, with his own hand, put his signature against his surname, first name and patronymic, write the date and sign the signature sheet.
7. The signature sheet used for collection of voter signatures in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates shall be certified by the signature collector and the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc. The signature collector shall, with his own hand, write his surname, first name and patronymic, address of the place of residence, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document, the date of its issuance and the name or code of the issuing body; sign the signature sheet and write the date. The authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc shall, with his own hand, put his signature against his surname, first name and patronymic and write the date.
8. After collection of voter signatures in support of a federal list of candidates has been completed the authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc shall count the number of collected signatures separately for each Russian Federation subject where signatures were collected and the total number of signatures. The counting results shall be entered in the protocol of the results of signature collection which shall be signed by authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc.
9. A candidate or the authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc shall count the number of voter signatures collected in support of the candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district, record this number in the protocol of the results of signature collection and sign the protocol.
10. The number of voter signatures on signature sheets which are submitted to election commissions may exceed the number of signatures required for registration under this Federal Law, but by not more than 25 percent.
11. Signature sheets to be submitted to election commissions shall be stitched together and numbered. The signature sheets in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates shall be sorted out and stitched in the form of files in accordance with the Russian Federation subjects where voter signatures were collected.
1. For the registration of a candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district the candidate or the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc shall, submit the following electoral documents to a relevant election commission not earlier than 75 days and not later than 45 days before voting day, 18.00 hours local time:
(1) signature sheets with voter signatures collected in support of the nomination of the candidate (if signatures were collected in support of the nomination of the candidate);
(2) the protocol of signature collection results on a paper medium, in duplicate, according to the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation (if signatures were collected in support of the nomination of the candidate);
(3) information about the changes in the candidate's data submitted earlier in pursuance of Clauses 7 and 8, Article 38, Clauses 12 and 13, Article 41 of this Federal Law;
(4) the first financial report of the candidate.
2. For the registration of a federal list of candidates the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc shall submit the following electoral documents to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not earlier than 75 days and not later than 45 days before voting day, 18.00 hours Moscow time::
(1) signature sheets with voter signatures collected in support of the nomination of the federal list of candidates (if signatures were collected in support of the nomination of the federal list of candidates);
(2) the protocol of signature collection results on a paper medium in duplicate, and in a machine-readable form according to the form established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation (if signatures were collected in support of the nomination of the federal list of candidates);
(3) information about the changes which were made in the federal list of candidates after certification of its copy and changes in the data of each candidate on the federal list of candidates submitted earlier in pursuance of Clauses 1 and 4, Article 41 of this Federal Law;
(4) the first financial report of the political party, electoral bloc.
3. When accepting electoral documents the election commissions shall certify each file containing signature sheets with their seal, check to see that the number of submitted signature sheets corresponds to the number indicated in the protocol of signature collection results and then issue to the candidate or the authorized representative of the political party, electoral bloc a written receipt confirming the acceptance of the signature sheets and indicating the number of accepted signature sheets, the stated number of signatures, the date and time when the signature sheets were accepted. An election commission shall not restrict admission to its premises of candidates, authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc nor shall it refuse to accept electoral documents required for the registration from these persons if the documents were delivered before the deadline indicated in Clauses 1 and 2 of this article, save as otherwise provided by Clause 4 of this article.
4. If by the day when documents for registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates are to be submitted to a relevant election commission, this candidate or the political party, electoral bloc which nominated this federal list of candidates paid an electoral deposit into the special account of the election commission and after than they submitted signature sheets with voter signatures, then this election commission shall carry out verification of the submitted signatures. If the candidate, federal list of candidates have been registered on the basis of the submitted voter signatures, the election commission shall, within 10 days, remit the electoral deposit to the special account of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc.
5. A candidate shall be entitled not to collect signatures in support of his nomination and a political party, an electoral bloc shall be entitled not to collect signatures in support of the nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidates and not to submit collected signatures to the election commission. In this case registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates shall be carried out by a relevant election commission on the basis of an electoral deposit - a sum of money paid by the candidate into a special account of the election commission of a Russian Federation subject or by a political party, an electoral bloc into a special account of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. These accounts shall be opened at the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. Upon payment of an electoral deposit a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall submit to a relevant election commission a copy of the payment order for remittance of the electoral deposit with a note of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation confirming that the order has been accepted for execution, as well as other documents unrelated to collection of voter signatures, which are required for registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates in accordance with Clauses 1 or 2 of this article, respectively. The amount of an electoral deposit and the procedure for its payment are established by Article 68 of this Federal Law.
6. Submission of voter signatures to district election commissions, payment of an electoral deposit for the registration of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in single-seat electoral districts shall not be required if the federal list of candidates nominated by this political party, electoral bloc has been registered on the basis of submitted voter signatures.
7. Submission of voter signatures to district election commissions, payment of an electoral deposit for the registration of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in single-seat electoral districts shall not be required if the federal list of candidates nominated by this political party, the electoral bloc consisting of the same political parties and other all-Russia public associations as this electoral bloc was included in the distribution of deputy seats.
8. Submission of voter signatures to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, payment of an electoral deposit for the registration of a federal list of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc shall not be required if the federal list of candidates nominated by this political party, the electoral bloc which consisted of the same political parties and other all-Russia public associations as this electoral bloc was included in the distribution of deputy seats.
1. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall check compliance with the procedure for the nomination of a federal list of candidates established by this Federal Law on the part of each political party, electoral bloc which submitted the documents required under this Federal Law. If a political party, an electoral bloc submitted signature sheets with voter signatures collected in support of the nomination of a federal list of candidates, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall check compliance with the rules for signature collection and execution of signature sheets and shall verify the authenticity of the data contained in these signature sheets. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may verify authenticity of the biographic data and other information submitted by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc in accordance with this Federal Law.
2. District election commissions shall check to see that candidates were nominated in compliance with the requirements of this Federal Law. If a candidate, political party, electoral bloc submitted signature sheets with voter signatures collected in support of the nomination of a candidate, the district election commission shall check compliance with the rules for signature collection and execution of signature sheets and shall verify authenticity of the voter data and voter signatures contained in these signature sheets. A district election commission may verify authenticity of the biographic data and other information submitted by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc in accordance with this Federal Law.
3. An election commission shall make an application to competent bodies to verify authenticity of the data and information submitted in accordance with this Federal Law, and these bodies shall inform the election commission about the results of the verification within ten days or, ten days or less before voting day, within the time established by the election commission.
4. An election commission may, by its decision, form working groups from members of the election commission, members of its staff, invited specialists to check compliance with the rules for signature collection and execution of signature sheets and verify authenticity of the voter data and voter signatures contained in these signature sheets. Such verification may be carried out with the involvement of members of the lower election commissions, experts from internal-affairs bodies of the Russian Federation, juridical bodies of the Russian Federation, military commissariats as well as specialized institutions and organizations in charge of the registration of the population in the Russian Federation. On the basis of their conclusions the data in signature sheets may be pronounced unauthentic. In order to verify authenticity of the information contained in signature sheets election commissions may use the State System for Registration of Voters, Referendum Participants.
5. Verification shall cover not less than 20 percent of the number of voter signatures in support of the nomination of each candidate, federal list of candidates, required for registration, and the corresponding data of the voters who put these signatures. An equal number of signatures collected in support of the nomination of each candidate, federal list of candidates shall be sampled for initial verification. If the number of signatures required for registration does not exceed one thousand, all signatures shall be verified. Signature sheets to be subjected to selective verification shall be chosen by random sampling (by lot). The random sampling procedure shall be determined by a relevant election commission. In a district election commission lot-drawing and verification of signature sheets may be witnessed by candidates nominated in the given electoral district or by their agents, authorized representatives of the political parties, electoral blocs which nominated candidates in the single-seat electoral district, in the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the authorized representatives of the political parties, electoral blocs which nominated federal lists of candidates. The time appointed for lot-drawing and verification of signature sheets shall be made known the candidate, the authorized representative of the political party, electoral bloc which nominated a federal list of candidates, who have submitted the number of signatures required for the registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates. The election commission shall not refuse to allow other persons sent by the candidate, political party, electoral bloc to be present at verification. The verification shall cover all signatures on the signature sheets sampled for verification.
6. On the basis of verification of the data contained in signature sheets a voter signature may be pronounced authentic, unauthentic or invalid.
7. Voter signatures and the corresponding voter data contained in signature sheets but deleted (stricken out) by the persons who certify signature sheets before the signature sheets were submitted to the election commission shall not be verified or counted, if these persons have made a special note to confirm the deletion in the signature sheet or signature collection protocol before submission of the signature sheets to the election commission.
8. If verification of signature sheets reveals several signatures put by one person in support of the nomination of the same candidate, federal list of candidates, only one signature shall be deemed authentic and the rest shall be pronounced invalid.
9. Signatures shall be deemed unauthentic if put by one person on behalf of different persons or on behalf of some other person. Such signatures shall be pronounced unauthentic on the basis of a written conclusion of an expert, involved in the verification of the authenticity of signatures in accordance with Clause 4 of this article.
10. The following signatures shall be deemed invalid:
(1) signatures of persons who are not entitled to an active electoral right in the given single-seat electoral district, Russian Federation subject;
(2) signatures of voters who indicated wrong data in the signature sheet. In this case, the signature shall be pronounced invalid on the basis of the official information supplied by an internal affairs body of the Russian Federation or a conclusion made by an expert involved in the verification of the authenticity of signatures in accordance with Clause 4 of this article;
(3) voter signatures put without indication of some of the data required under this Federal Law or without indication of the date when the voter put his signature with his own hand;
(4) voter signatures accompanied by voter data which is not written by hand or written with a pencil;
(5) voter signatures with a corrected date indicating when they were put on the signature sheet if the corrections have not been specially endorsed by the voters or persons certifying the signature sheets and voter signature and dates that were not put by the voter with his own hand;
(6) voter signatures with corrected data of the voters who put these signatures if the corrections have not been specially endorsed by the voter or the persons certifying the signature sheets;
(7) all signatures on the signature sheet if the signature sheet has not been certified by an autograph signature of the signature collector and/or of the authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc, and/or of the candidate, or if this signature is unauthentic, or if the data of the signature collector or the date when the signature sheet was signed by the signature collector, authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc, a candidate have been corrected and the corrections have not been specially endorsed by the signature collector, authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc, a candidate, respectively;
(8) voter signatures put on the signature sheet before the day following the day when the district election commission, election commission of a Russian Federation subject were notified about the nomination of the candidate or before the day following the day when a copy of the federal list of candidates was certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
(9) signatures collected with the participation of bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, governing bodies of organizations of all forms of ownership, institutions, voting members of election commissions or with coercion applied to voters during signature collection, or with remuneration of voters for putting their signatures, or at work places or when and where wages, pensions, allowances, stipends, other social benefits are paid;
(10) voter signatures, if voter data has been written on the signature sheet not by the voters who put their signatures and not by the signature collector - on the basis of a written conclusion of an expert involved in the verification of signatures in accordance with Clause 4 of this article;
(11) all signatures on a signature sheet made with the violation of the requirements set forth in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 to this Federal Law.
11. If a filled-out line (lines) is (are) discovered on the signature sheet, which does (do) not meet the requirements of this Federal Law, only the signature in the given line (given lines) shall be disregarded, save as otherwise provided by Sub-clauses 7 and 11, Clause 10 of this article.
12. Corrections and blots specially endorsed on the signature sheet shall not be used as a reason for invalidating a signature unless it has been pronounced unauthentic or invalid in accordance with Clauses 8 to 10 of this article. Neither shall a voter signature be invalidated because of abbreviations contained in the voter data if these abbreviations do not prevent unambiguous interpretation of this data.
13. The authenticity of a voter signature shall not be established by polling.
14. If the number of signatures found to be unauthentic and invalid in the course of selective verification equals or exceeds 25 percent of the number of signatures sampled for verification, an additional 15 per cent of the number of voter signatures required for registration shall be subjected to verification in the procedure set forth in this article.
15. If the total number of unauthentic and invalid signatures discovered in the course of selective verification equals or exceeds 25 percent of the total number of signatures subject to verification under Clauses 5 and 14 of this article, further verification of the signature sheets shall be discontinued and the candidate, federal list of candidates shall not be registered.
16. Neither shall a candidate, federal list of candidates be registered if the number of submitted voter signatures minus the number of signatures found unauthentic and invalid is insufficient for registration.
17. After the end of verification of signature sheets a final protocol of verification results shall be prepared for each candidate, federal list of candidates. This protocol shall be signed by the head of the working group - a voting member of the given election commission and shall be submitted to the election commission for adoption of a relevant decision. The protocol must indicate the number of stated, submitted and verified signatures, the number of signatures pronounced unauthentic or invalid and the reasons why they have been pronounced unauthentic or invalid. The protocol shall be appended to the decision of the election commission. No changes shall be made in the protocol after the decision has been taken. A copy of the protocol shall be furnished to a candidate, authorized representatives of a political party, an electoral bloc not less than two days before the meeting of the election commission at which registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates is to be considered. If the number of authentic voter signatures is insufficient or the number of unauthentic or invalid signatures equals or exceeds 25 percent of the total number of signatures sampled for verification, the candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall be entitled to receive from the election commission a copy of the protocol certified by the head of the working group, a verification report setting forth the reasons why the voter signatures were pronounced unauthentic or invalid and indicating the number of the file, the number of the signature sheet and the number of the line of the signature sheet which contain each such signatures, as well as copies of official documents on the basis of which the signatures were pronounced unauthentic or invalid.
1. Not later than ten days after acceptance of the documents required for the registration of a federal list of candidates (and, in respect of a political party, an electoral bloc which have paid an electoral deposit for the registration of a federal list of candidates - after the electoral deposit is received to the special account of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation) the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall take a decision to register the federal list of candidates or a reasoned decision not to register this list.
2. Not later than ten days after acceptance of the documents required for the registration of a candidate in a single-seat electoral district (and, in respect of candidates who have paid an electoral deposit for the registration - after the electoral deposit is received to the special account of the election commission of a Russian Federation subject) a district election commission shall take a decision to register the candidate in the single-seat electoral district or a reasoned decision not to register this candidate.
3. When registering a candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc a district election commission shall indicate in its decision that the candidate has been nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc.
4. The decision to register a candidate, federal list of candidates must indicate the date and time of the registration.
5. One and the same person shall not be registered on more than one federal lists of candidates and in more than one single-seat electoral districts. A candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district as a self-nominated candidate shall not be simultaneously registered in the same electoral district as a candidate from a political party, an electoral bloc. A candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district as a candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc shall not be simultaneously included in a registered list of candidates of another political party, electoral bloc.
6. One and the same person may be simultaneously registered as a candidate in the federal electoral district and as a candidate in a single-seat electoral district, if the candidate in the single-seat electoral district and the federal list of candidates were nominated by the same political party, the same electoral bloc.
7. If the rules for the registration of a candidate laid down by Clauses 5 and 6 of this article have been violated, the valid registration of a candidate shall be that carried out on the basis of a decision taken earlier. The decision on the registration taken later shall be annulled by a relevant election commission if, within 24 hours of the adoption of the later decision, the registered candidate has not filed an application for canceling the earlier registration.
8. Having taken a decision to refuse the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates, an election commission shall, within 24 hours of its adoption, issue a copy of this decision, stating the reasons for the refusal, to the candidate or to the authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc which nominated the federal list of candidates. The reasons for the refusal may be the following:
(1) the candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district is not entitled to a passive electoral right. The fact that separate candidates included in a federal list of candidates are not entitled to a passive electoral right may only serve as a reason for the removal of these candidates from the certified federal list of candidates;
(2) for candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc, for federal lists of candidates - the failure to comply with the requirements to the nomination of a candidate, list of candidates established by the federal laws «On Political Parities» and «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Rights of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum»;
(3) documents required for the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates under this Federal Law are not included in the documents submitted for the registration;
(4) serious or repeated violation of the prohibition against collection of signatures at places where such activity is prohibited by the federal law, if the signatures submitted for the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates were collected in violation of this prohibition. A serious violation is collection of not less than 20 percent of the signatures submitted for the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates at places where collection of signatures is prohibited.
(5) insufficient number of submitted authentic voter signatures in support of the nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidates or the proportion of unauthentic and invalid voter signatures equals or exceeds 25 percent of the total number of signatures sampled for verification, unless an electoral deposit was paid after submission of the signatures to an election commission;
(6) inaccuracy of the information submitted by candidates, political parties, electoral blocs in accordance with Sub-clause 1, Clause 7, Article 38; Sub-clause 1, Clause 4 and Clause 12, Article 41 of this Federal Law. Inaccuracy of the information relating to separate candidates on a federal list of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc may only serve as a reason for the removal of these candidates from the certified federal list of candidates;
(7) the failure of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc to establish an electoral fund;
(8) expenditures made by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc from sources other than their electoral funds to finance their election campaigns exceed five percent of the maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund established by this Federal Law;
(9) expenditures made by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc from their electoral funds to finance their election campaigns exceed by five percent the maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund established by this Federal Law;
(10) the number of candidates removed from a federal list of candidates on the basis of their applications, by a decision of a political party, an electoral bloc (with the exception of candidates who were deleted due to compelling circumstances) and by a decision of an election commission for reasons set forth in this clause exceeds 25 percent of the total number of candidates on a certified federal list of candidates;
(11) a candidate, an authorized representative of a political party, an electoral bloc have violated Clause 1, Article 64 of the Federal Law during the campaigning period, as established by a court decision;
(12) a candidate (including a candidate on a federal list of candidates), his agents have taken advantage of the office or official position;
(13) a candidate has been registered in some other electoral district at this election, save the case where a candidate was nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc simultaneously in a single-seat electoral district and on a federal list of candidates;
(14) all political parties comprised in the given electoral bloc have refused to participate in the election as members of this electoral bloc;
(15) withdrawal of candidates as a result of which less than seven regional groups of candidates have remained on a federal list of candidates.
9. Collection of voter signatures and their submission to an election commission by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc for the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates shall not prevent registration on the basis of the payment of an electoral deposit. Neither shall the payment of an electoral deposit prevent registration on the basis of the collected voter signatures.
10. If the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates was refused, they may be nominated again provided the procedure and periods established by this Federal Law are complied with.
11. In the event of detection of any facts pointing to the violation of the election laws of the Russian Federation entailing criminal or administrative responsibility, an election commission shall present required documents and materials to law enforcement authorities for establishing the fact of the violation and bringing the offenders to responsibility.
12. The decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to register or not to register a federal list of candidates may be appealed in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. The decision of a district election commission to register or not to register a candidate may be appealed in the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, or the supreme court of the republic, or the krai and oblast court, the court of a city of federal significance, the court of an autonomous oblast, autonomous okrug. The appeal shall be considered within five days.
13. A certificate of registration shall be issued to each registered candidate.
14. Within 48 hours of their registration, registered federal lists of candidates together with the data of candidates included in these lists as well as the data of candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts shall be made available to the mass media by relevant election commissions. The list of the information about the income and property of registered candidates and candidates included in a registered federal lists of candidates shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
15. Not later than 15 days before voting day, the information about registered candidates and federal lists of candidates, containing the data listed in Clauses 3 to 5, Article 74 of this Federal Law, shall be displayed by district and territorial election commissions on bulletin boards inside their premises. The same procedure shall be used to announce annulment of registration of registered candidates, federal lists of candidates, changes in the membership of electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates, withdrawal of registered candidates from registered federal lists of candidates. The information about registered candidates, including those on registered federal lists of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be arranged in the same sequence as in ballots.
16. If, 35 days before voting day, no candidates or only one candidate has been registered in a single-seat electoral district and if less than three federal lists of candidates have been registered in the federal electoral district, then by the decision of a relevant district election commission, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the election shall be postponed for a period not exceeding two months for the additional nomination of candidates, federal lists of candidates and performance of subsequent electoral actions.
1. All candidates shall have equal rights and bear equal obligations, save as otherwise provided by this Federal Law, the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum,» other federal laws.
2. Only authorized representatives for financial matters and agents of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts may act on behalf of such candidates or, if a candidate is nominated on a federal list of candidates - only authorized representatives and agents of the political party or electoral bloc which nominated this list.
1. When conducting their election campaign candidates who occupy state or municipal offices or are in state or municipal service as well as candidates who are officials, journalists, persons holding other creative jobs in mass media organizations shall not take advantage of their office or official position.
2. Registered candidates occupying state offices of category «A» in the bodies of executive power, including top executives of Russian Federation subjects (heads of the highest executive bodies of state power of Russian Federation subjects), or offices in the bodies of judicial power, or elective municipal offices (with the exception of deputies of representative bodies of local self-government) as well as registered candidates who are in state and municipal service or work in mass media organizations (with the exception of the editorial offices of print media founded by candidates, political parties) shall, for the period of their participation in the election, be relieved from their official duties and shall submit certified copies of relevant orders to the election commission which registered them, within three days of the day of registration.
3. During an election campaign persons who are not candidates and occupy state or municipal offices or are in state or municipal service shall not take advantage of their offices or official position to promote nomination and/or election of a candidate, federal list of candidates.
4. In this Federal Law taking advantage of an office or official position means:
(1) involvement of persons who are subordinate to or dependent on a candidate in the line of duty, other state and municipal employees in activities carried out during the working hours to promote nomination and/or election of a candidate;
(2) use of premises occupied by state bodies or bodies of local self-government for activities promoting nomination and/or election of a candidate (candidates) if the use of the same premises is not guaranteed to other candidates on the same terms and conditions;
(3) use of telephone, fax and other means of communication, information services, office equipment of state bodies or bodies of local self-government, state and municipal institutions for election campaigning;
(4) use of state- or municipality-owned transport facilities at no charge or reduced charges for activities promoting nomination and/or election of a candidate (candidates). This provision shall not apply to persons using the said transport facilities in accordance with the Russian Federation laws on the security services provided by the state;
(5) collection of signatures or election campaigning carried out by persons who hold state and municipal offices or are in state or municipal service during business trips paid for from the state or municipal funds;
(6) privileged access (compared to other candidates) to the state and municipal mass media for collection of signatures or election campaigning;
(7) propaganda speeches at mass events organized during an election campaign by a state and/or municipal body, organization, with the exception of a speech at an event indicated in Clause 5, Article 62 of this Federal Law.;
(8) publication of any work progress reports during an election campaign, mailing of congratulations and other materials on behalf of a citizen who is a candidate if such mailing is not paid for out of a relevant electoral fund.
5. Compliance with the restrictions listed in Clause 4 of this article must not prevent deputies from exercising their powers and performing their obligations to voters.
6. Officials, journalists and other persons holding creative jobs in mass media organizations (with the exception of the editorial offices of print media founded by candidates, political parties) shall not participate in highlighting an election campaign in the mass media if these persons are candidates, or authorized representatives, or agents of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
1. At a candidate's request or report the employer, head of a state body or its division, commanding officer of a military unit, administration of an educational establishment where the candidate serves, does an alternative military service, undergoes military training, studies shall relieve the candidate from work, service, training and study on any day and for any time in the period from the day of the candidate's registration by a relevant election commission to the day of the official publication of the general election results.
2. A candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district who, as shown by vote returns, received not less than three percent of the total vote in a single-seat electoral district or was declared elected, a registered candidate who withdrew his candidature before voting day because of compelling circumstances shall be compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the fare charged on the urban and suburban public transport (not more than thirty trips) and interurban public transport within the territory of the given district (not more than four trips). If such candidate resides outside the boundaries of the single-seat district in which he was registered, he shall be additionally compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the cost of tickets for four round trips to the electoral district by public railway, water or motor transport or two round trips by air transport. In cities where there are several electoral districts a candidate registered in one of such electoral districts shall be compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the fare charged on the urban transport. Compensation for travel expenses shall be paid by a relevant district election commission out of the funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election.
3. A candidate included in the federal part of a registered federal list of candidates who, as shown by vote returns, received not less than two percent of the total vote in the federal electoral district, or was recalled by a political party, an electoral bloc because of compelling circumstances, or withdrew his candidature before voting day because of compelling circumstances, shall be compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the cost of tickets for two trips within the territory of the Russian Federation by any means of public interurban transport. A registered candidate included in the regional group of candidates of such federal list of candidates shall be compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the cost of the fare charged on urban and suburban transport (not more than thirty trips) and on public interurban transport (not more than four trips) within the region where the candidate is included in the regional group of candidates. If such registered candidate resides outside the boundaries of the region where he is included in the regional group of candidates, he shall be additionally compensated for travel expenses in the amount of the cost of tickets for four round trips to the region by public railway, water or motor transport or two round trips by air transport. Compensation for travel expenses shall be paid by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation out of the funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election.
4. Registered candidates indicated in Clauses 2 and 3 of this article shall be compensated for travel expenses incurred from the day of their registration to the day of the official publication of the election results. No compensation shall be paid for taxi trips and the use of chartered transport. Travel expenses incurred in the use of suburban and interurban transport shall be reimbursed upon production of tickets bought for the trips (from the point of departure to the point of destination), expenses incurred in the use of urban transport - upon production of a pass for a relevant period.
5. Payment of compensation for travel expenses shall be made after the official publication of the general election results and before a registered candidate, a political party and an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates submit a final financial report to a relevant election commission within the period established by this Federal Law. No compensation for travel expenses shall be paid after a registered candidate, a political party and an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates submit a final financial report to a relevant election commission within the period established by this Federal Law.
6. During the period indicated in Clause 1 of this article a registered candidate shall not be dismissed from his job, expelled from an educational establishment, transferred to another job, including jobs in other localities without his consent, sent on business trips by the administration (employer), called up for military service or military training or ordered to do an alternative military service. The time of participation of a registered candidate in the election shall be included in his overall service record in accordance with his specialty before the registration.
7. During the period indicated in Clause 1 of this article a registered candidate shall not be subjected to criminal prosecution, arrested and no administrative punishments shall be imposed on a candidate by a court without the consent of the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation. Having given such a consent, the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation shall serve a notice to this effect on the election commission which had registered the candidate.
8. A candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district, an authorized representative of a political party and an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates may receive from a relevant district election commission a list of electoral precincts indicating the boundaries of the electoral precincts, addresses and telephone numbers of territorial and precinct election commissions, addresses of polling stations.
1. A candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district may appoint up to 20 agents, a political party and an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates up to 500 agents. These persons shall be registered by a district election commission or the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, respectively. Agents shall be registered within three days of receipt of a written notification from a candidate or a political party, an electoral bloc about the appointment of agents and a statement of the citizen expressing his consent to be an agent. The notification must indicate the surname, first name and patronymic of each proposed agent, his date of birth, main place of work or service (occupation, if there is no main place of work or service), position, place of residence, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document, date of its issuance.
2. Persons occupying state offices of category «A» or elective municipal offices, members of the staff of election commissions shall not be agents of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. Persons in state or municipal service may be appointed agents if they are relieved from their official duties while they exercise the powers of an agent. A person in state or municipal service shall be registered as an agent if he submits a relevant order (directive) to an election commission.
3. Agents shall receive ID cards from an election commission. At the request of agents the administration (employer) shall grant them an unpaid leave of absence for the period during which they are to exercise the powers of an agent.
4. Agents shall participate in the election campaign of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc, including propaganda activities. An agent shall also exercise the powers of an observer.
5. Candidates, political parties and electoral blocs who/which appointed agents may, at any time, recall them and appoint other agents in their place by serving a notice to this effect on an election commission, which shall annul ID cards issued to the recalled agents. Agents may, at any time, resign their powers on their own initiative by returning their ID cards to a relevant election commission and notifying a candidate, political party, electoral bloc of their decision
6. The powers of agents shall commence from the day when agents are registered by a relevant election commission and cease when a candidate's status is lost by the candidate who appointed them or by all candidates nominated on a federal list of candidates by a political party, an electoral bloc which appointed the agents, save as otherwise provided by Clause 5 of this article, but not later than the day of the official publication of the general election results, or, if a complaint about violations of this Federal Law is being examined by a court, not later than the date when the court hands down a final decision.
1. A candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district may, at any time but not later than three days or, in the presence of compelling circumstances, not later than one day before voting day, withdraw his candidature by submitting a written application to a relevant district election commission. Such application shall be irrevocable. In the case of a registered candidate, a district election commission shall annul registration of the candidate within 24 hours of receipt of his application.
2. A candidate on a federal list of candidates may, at any time but not later than five days before voting day or, in the presence of compelling circumstances, not later than one day before voting day, refuse to continue participation in the election on the given federal list of candidates by submitting a written application to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Such application shall be irrevocable. Based on the received application the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall, within 24 hours, remove the applicant from the given federal list of candidates.
3. The actions indicated in Clauses 1 and 2 of this article shall not deprive the person who took them of a right to be nominated again at the same election in any single-seat electoral district, in accordance with the procedure and within the period established by this Federal Law.
4. At any time but not later than five days before voting day, a political party and an electoral bloc which nominated a federal list of candidates may recall their federal list of candidates, subject to a decision of the duly authorized body of this political party, electoral bloc, by submitting a written application to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Such application shall be irrevocable.
5. A political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in an electoral bloc may, at any time but not later than five days before voting day, refuse to continue participation in the election within the given electoral bloc, subject to a decision of the duly authorized body of this political party, other all-Russia pubic associations, by submitting a written application to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. A political party, other all-Russia public associations which refused to continue participation in the election within an electoral bloc may join another electoral bloc and a political party may also participate in the election independently in accordance with the procedure and time periods established by this Federal Law. If, after the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation certified a copy of the list (lists) of candidates nominated by an electoral bloc, the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the given electoral bloc, with the exception of one political party, refuse to participate in the election, this political party shall have the right to continue to participate in the election as an electoral bloc using the name and emblem of the electoral bloc and assuming the rights and obligations of the electoral bloc which submitted a relevant list of candidates. This right shall not apply if registration of a federal list of candidates was refused or its registration was annulled in accordance with Sub-clause 10 , Clause 8, Article 47 and Clause 4, Article 95 of this Federal Law. If, as a result of the refusal to participate in the election within an electoral bloc no political parties remain in the electoral bloc, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall revoke the decision to register the electoral bloc and certify the list (lists) of candidates nominated by this electoral bloc or shall annul registration of the federal list of candidates nominated by this electoral bloc.
6. Refusal of an electoral bloc to participate in the election shall not deprive the political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in this electoral bloc of the right to participate in this election. In this case once against it shall be necessary to nominate candidates and perform other electoral actions in accordance with the procedure and within the periods established by this Federal Law.
7. A political party on the basis of its Rules, an electoral bloc subject to a decision of representatives duly authorized by political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the bloc may, at any time but not later than five days before voting day, remove some candidates from a federal list of candidates certified (registered) by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
8. A political party on the basis of its Rules, an electoral bloc subject to a decision of representatives duly authorized by political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc may, at any time but not later than five days before voting day, recall a candidate, nominated by them in a single-seat electoral district by submitting a written application to this effect to a relevant district election commission. If the recalled candidate is a registered candidate, the district election commission shall annul registration of the candidate.
9. An election commission which took a decision to annul registration of a candidate shall forthwith serve a notice to this effect on the person in respect of whom the decision was taken and shall issue a copy of the decision to this person.
10. No new persons shall be put on the list of persons and no changes shall be made in the order in which candidates are arranged on the list, save the cases where changes in the arrangement of candidates result from the withdrawal of some candidates and also the case provided by Clause 9, Article 39 of this Federal Law.
11. If, by voting day, no registered candidates or only one registered candidate remains in an electoral district or if less than three federal lists of candidates remain in the federal electoral district, then, by the decision of, respectively, a relevant district election commission, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the election shall be postponed for a period not exceeding two months in a single-seat electoral district and not exceeding three months in the federal electoral district for additional nomination of candidates, lists of candidates and performance of subsequent electoral actions.
12. If the circumstances indicated in Clause 11 of this article result from the fact that a registered candidate withdrew his candidature in the absence of any compelling circumstances, or a political party, an electoral bloc recalled a registered candidate in the absence of any compelling circumstances, or the registration of a candidate was annulled by a court, or a political party, an electoral bloc recalled a registered federal list of candidates in the absence of any compelling circumstances, or the registration of a federal list of candidates was annulled by a court, all expenses incurred by a relevant election commission in the preparation and conduct of the election shall be collected from this registered candidate, this political party, electoral bloc. If the obligation to reimburse these expenses is imposed on an electoral bloc, the required funds shall be equally divided between the political parties comprised in the given bloc as of the date on which a relevant decision was taken by the electoral bloc or as of the date of the decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to annul registration of a federal list of candidates, unless another method of division is envisaged in the agreement for the establishment of this bloc submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
13. In this Federal Law circumstances compelling a candidate to withdraw his candidature or a political party, an electoral bloc to recall a candidate mean the pronouncement of a candidate to be legally incapable or partially incapable by a court, a serious illness or persistent health problems of a candidate or his next of kin. The circumstances compelling a political party, an electoral bloc to recall a federal list of candidates mean withdrawal of the first three candidates who top the federal part of a federal list of candidates due to compelling circumstances or death or presumptive death of these candidates and/or withdrawal of more than 25 percent of candidates from a federal list of candidates.
The informational support of the election shall include information of voters and election campaigning conducive to conscious expression of voters' will and to openness of the election.
1. Information of voters shall be carried out by bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, election commissions, mass media organizations, legal entities and natural persons in accordance with this Federal Law, Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.» Bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government shall not inform voters about candidates, about political parties and electoral blocs which nominated lists of candidates.
2. Informational materials carried by the mass media or disseminated by other methods shall be objective and accurate and shall not violate the equality of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
3. Information of voters, in particular through the mass media, about the preparation and conduct of the election, the periods and procedures for the performance of electoral actions, about political parties and electoral blocs, about candidates, lists of candidates, about electoral laws of the Russian Federation shall be carried out by election commissions.
4. Mass media organizations shall be free in their activity aimed at information of voters.
5. In TV and radio news programs and in the publications carried by the print media reports concerning election events shall be always presented in the form of separate news items, without any comments. Such news items shall not be paid for by candidates, political parties, electoral blocs and shall not give preference to any candidate, any political party, electoral bloc, in particular with regard to the time devoted to highlighting their election activities, the amount of space allocated in the print media for such reports.
6. Journalists, other creative workers and officials of a mass media organization who are engaged in the activity aimed at the informational support of the election of deputies of the State Duma in accordance with the electoral laws of the Russian Federation shall not be fired by the administration (employer) and shall not be transferred to other jobs without their consent during the election campaign at the election of deputies of the State Duma and during one year thereafter, save the case where a disciplinary action was taken against them in accordance with the labor laws of the Russian Federation and this action was not appealed in a court or was declared lawful and appropriate by a court.
7. On voting day, before the end of voting in an electoral district, no information shall be published (made public) about the results of the election and no such information shall be placed in the public information-telecommunications networks (including the Internet).
1. Publication of the results of opinion polls connected with the election of deputies of the State Duma is a form of information of voters. The failure to comply with the requirements of Clauses 2 and 3 of this article when the results of opinion polls are published (made public) shall result in the fact the materials containing this information will be treated as propaganda materials and such failure shall entail the responsibility established by this Federal Law.
2. When publishing the results of opinion polls connected with the election of deputies of the State Duma the mass media, citizens and organizations that publish (make public) these results shall indicate the organization which conducted the poll, the time when it was conducted, the number of respondents (sample), how the information was gathered, the region where the poll was conducted, the precise formulation of the question, the statistical assessment of a possible error, the person (persons) who ordered the poll and paid for the publication of its results.
3. For five days before voting day and on voting day it shall be prohibited to publish (make public) the results of opinion polls, forecasts of election results at the election of deputies of the State Duma, other studies relating to the election, in particular in the public information-telecommunications networks (including the Internet).
1. The informational support of the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be provided by means of state, municipal and non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media.
2. In this Federal Law state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media mean TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media which are founded (co-founded) or the editorial offices of which are founded (co-founded) by state bodies and organizations and/or which, a year before the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election, received state support in the form of subsidies and/or subventions for their current functioning from the federal budget, budgets of Russian Federation subjects and/or which have a charter capital where the state has a stake as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election.
3. In this Federal Law municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media mean TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media which are founded (co-founded) or the editorial offices of which are founded (co-founded) by municipal bodies and organizations and/or which, a year before the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election, received municipal support in the form of subsidies and/or subventions for their current functioning from the local budget and/or which have a charter capital where the municipality has a stake as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election.
4. In this Federal Law non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media mean TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media which do not fall within Clauses 2 and 3 of this article.
5. In this Federal Law, depending on their coverage and distribution area, state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media are divided into:
(1) national TV and radio broadcasting organizations, i.e., TV and radio organizations which have a broadcasting license covering the territory of a half or more than a half of Russian Federation subjects;
(2) regional TV and radio broadcasting organizations, i.e., TV and radio broadcasting organizations which have a broadcasting license covering less than a half of Russian Federation subjects as well as relevant divisions of the TV and radio broadcasting organizations indicated in Clause 1 of this article.;
(3) national print media registered for distribution in a half or more than a half of Russian Federation subjects;
(4) regional print media registered for distribution in less than a half of Russian Federation subjects.
6. Print media founded by legislative (representative), executive and judicial bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government exclusively for the publication of their official documents and reports, regulations and other acts shall not publish any propaganda materials and editorial articles highlighting the activity of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
7. The list of national TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media shall be published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the basis of the information submitted by the federal bodies of executive power which formulate and implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media, not later than the tenth day after the official publication of the decision to call the election. If a national state print media outlet is published less than once a week, this fact shall be indicated in the list.
8. The list of regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media and of municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations and editorial offices of municipal print media shall be published by the election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects on the basis of the information submitted by the territorial agencies of the federal bodies of executive power which formulate and implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media and the relevant bodies of executive power of the Russian Federation subjects not later than the tenth day after the official publication of the decision to call the election. If a regional state print media outlet is published less than once a week, this fact shall be indicated in the list.
1. The following shall be regarded as election campaigning during the conduit of an election campaign:
(1) calls for voting for or against a candidate, federal list of candidates;
(2) expression of preference for some candidate, political party, other all-Russia public associations (if they are comprised in an electoral bloc), electoral bloc, in particular, statements indicating the candidate, federal list of candidates, political party, electoral bloc for which a voter will vote;
(3) description of possible consequences of the election or non-election of a candidate, federal list of candidates;
(4) dissemination of materials with a marked predominance of the information about some candidates, political parties, other all-Russia public associations (if they are comprised in an electoral bloc), electoral blocs, with positive or negative comments;
(5) dissemination of information about the activities of a candidate unrelated to his professional activity or performance of his official duties;
(6) activity promoting formation of a positive or negative attitude of voters towards a candidate, political party or other all-Russian public associations (if they are comprised in an electoral bloc) of which the candidate is a member, a political party and an electoral bloc which nominated the candidate (candidates), list of candidates;
(7) other actions which aim at encouraging or are encouraging voters to vote for or against a candidate, list of candidates or against all candidates (all lists of candidates).
2. Election campaigning may be conducted:
(1) on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the print media;
(2) by means of public events (meetings with citizens, rallies, marches, demonstrations, public debates and discussions);
(3) by producing and distributing printed, audio-visual and other propaganda materials;
(4) by other methods which are not prohibited by law.
3. Election campaigning on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the print media shall be conducted in the form of public debates, discussions, roundtables, press conferences, interviews, speeches, demonstration of TV stories and video films about a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc and in other forms which are not prohibited by law.
4. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc may select the contents, form and methods of their election campaigning at their own discretion, conduct election campaigning and involve other persons therein in the procedure established by Russian Federation laws. .
5. Election campaigning shall not be conducted and any kind of election propaganda materials shall not be produced and distributed by:
(1) federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of Russian Federation subjects, other state bodies, bodies of local self-government;
(2) persons who are in state and municipal service, including servicemen, persons occupying state offices of category «A» or elective municipal offices when they are discharging their official duties and/or by taking advantage of their office and official position;
(3) military units, military establishments and organizations;
(4) charity and religious organizations and organizations founded by them as well as representatives of religious associations when they are performing rites and ceremonies;
(5) election commissions, voting members of election commissions;
(6) foreign nationals, stateless persons, foreign legal entities;
(7) representatives of mass media organizations when they are engaged in their professional activities.
6. Persons who occupy state offices of category «A» or elective municipal offices shall not conduct election campaigning on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the print media, save the case where these persons have been registered as candidates.
7. Persons who have not attained to the age of 18 years on voting day shall not be directly or indirectly involved in election campaigning.
8. Pictures of a natural person, positive statements of a natural person about a candidate, political party, other all-Russia public associations (if they are comprised in an electoral bloc), an electoral bloc may be used in propaganda materials of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs only with a written consent of the natural person. The document confirming such consent shall be submitted to an election commission together with copies of propaganda materials to be submitted in accordance with Clause 5, Article 63 of this Federal Law and, if the propaganda material is to be broadcast by a TV and radio broadcasting organization or published in a print media outlet, at the request of an election commission. This restriction shall not apply to opinions quoted by candidates, political parties, electoral blocs in their election campaigning if these opinions have been expressed in public and published (made public), provided the date (period of time) of the publication and name of the mass media outlet where this opinion was published are indicated. References in propaganda materials to a positive statement of a natural person, who is not allowed to conduct election campaigning under this Federal Law, about a candidate, political party, other all-Russia public associations (if they are comprised in an electoral bloc), electoral bloc shall be allowed only if this statement was published (made public) before the official publication of the decision to call the election. Such reference must indicate the date (period of time) when this statement was published (made public) and the name of the mass media outlet where it was made public.
9. All election campaigning expenditures shall be paid exclusively from relevant electoral funds. Campaigning activities aiming to encourage or encouraging voters to vote for a candidate, federal list of candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc, which are paid for from electoral funds of other candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, shall be prohibited.
10. If a political party, including a political party comprised in an electoral bloc, or this electoral bloc have nominated a candidate, list (lists) of candidates or registered a federal list of candidates, then not later than ten days before voting day this political party shall publish its election program at least in one national state print media outlet and in the Internet. A political party comprised in an electoral bloc shall have the right not to publish its election program if this electoral bloc publishes its election program within the period indicated above. Such publication shall be carried out with the use of either free space provided by the print media under this Federal Law or space paid for from the electoral fund of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc.
1. Election campaigning shall commence from the day of nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidates and end at 00.00 hours local time one day before voting day.
2. Election campaigning on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the print media shall be conducted in the period which begins 30 days before voting day and ends at 00.00 hours local time one day before voting day.
3. No election campaigning shall be conducted on voting day and a day before.
4. Printed propaganda materials (leaflets, posters, etc.) which were earlier displayed outside polling stations and premises of election commissions at a minimum distance of 50 meters from the entrance thereto in the procedure established by the federal law, shall remain in place on voting day.
1. Air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations and space in print media may be made available to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates in the procedure established by this Federal Law free of charge (free air time, free space) or for a charge.
2. Registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall not use their free air time, free space in print media to campaign for any other registered candidates, other political parties, electoral blocs. This requirement shall not apply to election campaigning conducted by registered candidates nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc for other registered candidates nominated by the same political party, electoral bloc and to election campaigning conducted by a political party, an electoral bloc for the registered candidates whom they nominated.
3. State and municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state and municipal print media shall guarantee to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts and to political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates equal terms and conditions for election campaigning, in particular for the presentation of their election programs to voters.
4. National state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of national state print media shall offer possibilities for conducting election campaigning to political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates
5. Regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of regional state print media shall offer possibilities for conducting election campaigning to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts and to regional groups of candidates.
6. Municipal state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of municipal state print media shall guarantee equal terms and conditions for conducting election campaigning to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates. These organizations and editorial offices may provide air time and space in print media to such candidates, political parties. electoral blocs only for a charge.
7. Non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of non-state print media founded not less than one year before the commencement of an election campaign as well as non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of non-state print media founded by political parties less than one year before the commencement of an election campaign may provide air time, space in print media to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates for a charge. Other non-state TV and broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of other non-state print media shall not provide air time, space in print media to registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
8. The terms of payment for the provision of air time, space in print media shall be the same for all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs to whom/which they were provided. This requirement shall not apply to the editorial offices of print media founded by candidates, political parties which nominated a list (lists) of candidates, political parties comprised in an electoral bloc which nominated a list (lists) of candidates. In this Federal Law print media founded by a candidate means print media founded not less than one year before the commencement of an election campaign by a citizen (citizens) of the Russian Federation, who participates (participate) in the election of deputies of the State Duma as a candidate (candidates).
9. Information about the rates charged (in the Russian Federation currency) for air time, space in print media and other terms of payment shall be published by a relevant TV and radio broadcasting organization, editorial office of a print media outlet not later than 30 days after the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election. Within this period this information and a notice of readiness to provide air time, space in print media to political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates, registered candidates, regional groups of candidates shall be submitted:
by the national TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of national print media to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
by the regional and municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of regional and municipal print media to the election commission of the Russian Federation subject.
10. A registered candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in a single-seat electoral district and included in the federal part of a registered federal list of candidates of the same political party, electoral bloc shall not be entitled to free air time and free space on the channels of national state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in the national state print media, respectively.
11. A registered candidate nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc in a single-seat electoral district and included in the regional group of candidates of a registered federal list of candidates of the same political party, electoral bloc may use free air time and free space on the channels of regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and in regional state print media, respectively, either as a candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district or as a candidate included in the regional group of candidates.
12. TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media (regardless of the form of ownership) which provided free or paid air time and free or paid space to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall keep separate records of the amount and cost of such air time and space in according to the forms of such records established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, and, five days before voting day and within five days of voting day, shall furnish the data of these records to:
the election commission of the Russian Federation subject - with regard to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts;
the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation - with regard to political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates, including candidates in the federal part of these lists and in the regional groups of candidates.
13. At the request of an election commission of a Russian Federation subject, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media (regardless of the form of ownership) which provided air time and space to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall present documents confirming the consent of the registered candidate, the political party and the electoral bloc to the provision of paid services.
14. Non-state and municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media, specialized TV and radio broadcasting organizations and print media and state print media which are published less than once a week may refuse to participate in election campaigning. Such refusal shall be non-submission of the notice indicated in Clause 9 of this article to a relevant election commission within the period established by this clause.
15. TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media shall keep the documents indicated in Clause 12 of this article, which confirm the provision of free and paid air time and free and paid space in print media, for not less than three years after voting day.
16. Free or paid air time or space in print media shall be provided for election campaigning on the basis of a written contract concluded between a TV and radio broadcasting organizations, the editorial office of a print media outlet and a candidate, political party, electoral bloc before the provision of such air time, space in print media. As a condition for the provision of such air time, such space in print media. As a condition for the provision of free air time, free space in print media the contract between a TV and radio broadcasting organization, the editorial office of a print media outlet and a political party, editorial bloc shall indicate the cost of the provided free air time, free space (based on the rates indicated in accordance with Clause 9 of this article) and contain an obligation of the political party, electoral bloc to reimburse this cost if the political party, electoral bloc do not fall within Clause 1, Article 71 of the this Federal Law on the basis of the vote returns.
1. Registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to free air time on the channels of state organizations which carry out TV and/or ratio broadcasting on the territory of a relevant electoral district on equal terms and conditions (length of provided air time, airing time, other conditions).
2. The total amount of free air time to be provided for election campaigning by each national state TV and radio broadcasting organization on each of its channels shall be not less than one hour on working days in the period established in Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law. The total amount of free air time to be provided for election campaigning by each regional state TV and radio broadcasting organization on each of its channels shall be not less than 30 minutes on working days in the period established by Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law and, if the total broadcasting time of a TV and radio broadcasting organization is less than two hours a day, not less than one-fourth of the total broadcasting time. Free air time shall be provided in the broadcast periods viewed or listened to by the greatest number of persons, as determined by the TV and radio broadcasting organization.
3. The amount of free air time to be provided to a regional group of candidates in each Russian Federation subject by a regional state TV and radio broadcasting organization shall be calculated by multiplying the amount of air time provided by the TV and radio broadcasting organization to a candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district in the given Russian Federation subject by the number of single-seat electoral districts in this Russian Federation subject but shall not exceed this amount by more than three times. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall provide equal amounts of air time to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts, regional groups of candidates, with due regard for the said ratio.
4. Not less than one half of the total amount of free air time made available by TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall be provided to registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates for joint debates, «roundtables» and other joint campaigning events of a similar kind. This rule shall not apply if each registered candidate receives less than five minutes of the total amount of free air time. When air time is provided for joint campaigning events on the channels of regional state TV and radio broadcasting organizations, this air time shall be calculated and allocated separately for registered candidates and regional groups of candidates, with due regard for the ratio indicated in Clause 3 of this article. All registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be allowed to use this part of free air time on equal conditions.
5. Registered candidates, (including those on a federal list of candidates), authorized representatives and agents of political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates may participate in campaigning events indicated in Clause 4 of this article only personally.
6. Representatives of a candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district shall not be allowed to participate in joint campaigning events indicated in Clause 4 of this article.
7. A candidate, regional groups of candidates, political party, electoral bloc may refuse to participate in a joint campaigning event indicated in Clause 4 of this article.
8. In the cases provided by Clauses 6 and 7 of this article, air time allocated for a joint campaigning event shall not be reduced, save the case where only one participant is able to participate in a campaigning event. At his request this participant shall be given free air time within its part obtained by dividing the air time made available for the joint campaigning event by the total number of the planned participants in this event. Non-participation of a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc in a joint campaigning event shall not increase the amount of free air time to which they are entitled in accordance with Clause 9 of this article.
9. The remaining part of free air time made available by TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall be divided in equal parts between registered candidates, between regional groups of candidates, between political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
10. After the end of the registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates but not later than 32 days before voting day lots shall be drawn to distribute free air time between all registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
11. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation together with the representatives of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall organize lot-drawing to determine the concrete dates and time when election propaganda materials of political parties, electoral blocs are to be aired. The election commission of a Russian Federation subject together with the representatives of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall organize lot-drawing to determine the concrete dates and time when election propaganda materials of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates are to be aired. Lot-drawing may be witnessed by persons listed in Clause 1, Article 31 of this Federal Law. The results of lot-drawing shall be recorded in a protocol. The schedule of air time distribution determined on the basis of lot-drawing results shall be published in, respectively, national and regional state print media. Air time shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after low-drawing.
12. State TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall reserve air time to be acquired on a paid basis for election campaigning by registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates. The rates and the terms of payment shall be the same for all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. The total amount of paid air time to be reserved by each TV and radio broadcasting organization shall not be less than the total amount of free air time to be made available in accordance with Clauses 2 and 3 of this article but shall not exceed this amount by more than two times.
13. Each registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc shall be entitled, for a charge, to a part of the total amount of reserved air time, given by dividing this total amount by the total number of, respectively, registered candidates and regional groups of candidates (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 3 of this article) or political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
14. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall provide the air time indicated in Clause 12 of this article in the period indicated in Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law. The date and time when election propaganda materials are to be aired shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be organized by a TV and radio broadcasting organization with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written applications for participation in lot-drawing, submitted by registered candidates, authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs. Lot-drawing shall be conducted within the period established by Clause 10 of this article. Air time shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.
15. Municipal TV and radio broadcasting organizations which complied with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law shall provide air time for election campaigning to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates on a paid basis. The rates and the terms of payment shall be the same for all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. The total amount of paid air time to be provided by a municipal TV and radio broadcasting organization to registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be determined by this organization. The date and time when election propaganda materials of each registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc are to be aired shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be organized by a TV and radio broadcasting organization with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written applications for participation in lot-drawing, submitted by registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. Lot-drawing shall be conducted within the period established by Clause 10 of this article. Air time shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.
16. If, after lot-drawing, a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc refuse to use air time, they shall inform about their decision the relevant TV and radio broadcasting organization in writing not later than five days before the airing time and the TV and radio broadcasting organization shall be free to use the released air time at its discretion.
17. Air time on the channels of non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall be provided to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates on equal terms and conditions. Non-state TV and radio broadcasting organizations which fail to comply with this requirements and with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law shall not be allowed to provide air time for election campaigning to registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
18. The contracts for the provision of paid air time shall indicate the following: the type (form) of election campaigning; the airing date and time; the length of air time to be provided; the rates and terms of payment for the air time; the form and conditions of participation of a journalist (moderator) in the TV or radio program. After the terms and conditions of the contract have been carried out a work performance certificate and a record of the used air time shall be drawn up to confirm the performance of contractual obligations with the indication of the broadcasting channel, the name of the program and its airing time.
19. Not later than two days before provision of air time a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall submit a payment order to a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation for remittance of the full amount of payment for the air time. A registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall present a copy of the payment order endorsed by the branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation to a TV and radio broadcasting organization before provision of air time. If these terms and conditions for the provision of air time are not complied with, air time on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall not be provided.
20. The branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit the money not later than the next banking day after receipt of the payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed two banking days within a Russian Federation subject and five banking days within the Russian Federation.
21. If, while using paid air time, a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc violate the terms and conditions established by this Federal Law, a TV and radio broadcasting organization may apply to a court for cancellation of the contract for the provision of air time.
22. Transmission of election propaganda materials of a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc shall not be interrupted, in particular, by commercials advertising goods and services.
23. Transmission of propaganda materials of a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc on the channels of TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall not be interrupted for transmission of other TV and radio programs, other propaganda materials.
24. Video and audio recordings of TV and radio programs containing election propaganda materials shall be kept by a relevant TV and radio broadcasting organization for not less than 12 months from the day on which these programs were aired. TV and radio broadcasting organizations shall, free of charge, provide copies of such TV and radio programs to election commissions at their request.
1. Registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to free space in state print media which are published not less than once a week on the following conditions: equal amount of the provided space; the same place on a page; the same type size, and other conditions.
2. The total minimum weekly amount of free space which the editorial office of each state print media outlet is to provide to registered candidates, regional groups of candidates or to political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be equal to not less than 10 percent of the total amount of weekly space of the print media outlet in the period established by Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law. The information about the total amount of free space which the given print media outlet is to provide for election campaigning during the entire period established by Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law shall be published in the given print media outlet not later than 30 days after the official publication of the decision to call the election.
3. The amount of space in a regional state print media outlet to be provided by its editorial office to a regional group of candidates in each Russian Federation subject shall be calculated by multiplying the amount of space provided by the editorial office of the print media outlet to a candidate registered in a single-seat electoral district in the given Russian Federation subject by the number of single-seat electoral districts in this Russian Federation subject but shall not exceed this amount by more than three times. The said editorial offices of print media shall provide an equal amount of space to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts, regional groups of candidates, with due regard for the said ratio.
4. The total amount of free space declared by the editorial office of a print media outlet shall be distributed in equal parts between registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs by dividing the total amount of available space by the total number of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 3 of this article) or political parties, electoral blocs which are entitled to free space in the given print media outlet.
5. After the end of the registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates but not later than 32 days before voting day, the editorial office of a print media outlet together with interested persons shall organize lot-drawing to distribute free space between all registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs and fix the date of publication of their election propaganda materials. Lot-drawing may be witnessed by members of a relevant election commission and the persons indicated in Clause 1, Article 31 of this Federal Law. The results of lot-drawing shall be recorded in a protocol. Space in print media shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.
6. The editorial offices of state print media published not less than once a week shall reserve space to be acquired on a paid basis for publication of election propaganda materials by registered candidates, regional groups of candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates. The rates and terms of payment for the use of such space shall be the same for all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. The total amount of paid space to be reserved by the editorial office of a print media outlet shall not be less than the total amount of free space to be provided in accordance with Clause 2 of this article but shall not exceed this amount by more than two times.
7. Each registered candidate, regional groups of candidates, political party and electoral bloc which registered federal lists of candidates shall be entitled to paid space from the total amount of the reserved space within a part thereof given by dividing this total amount by the total number of registered candidates, regional groups of candidates (with due regard to the provisions of Clause 3 of this article) or political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
8. Space in print media indicated in Clause 6 of this article shall be made available by their editorial offices within the period indicated in Clause 2, Article 58 of this Federal Law. The date for the publication of election propaganda materials of a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party, electoral bloc shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be organized by the editorial office of a print media outlet with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written applications for participation in lot-drawing submitted by registered candidates, authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs. Law-drawing shall be conducted within the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article. Lot-drawing may be witnessed by members of a relevant election commission and the persons indicated in Clause 1, Article 31 of this Federal Law. The results of lot- drawing shall be recorded in a protocol. Space in print media shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.
9. The editorial offices of municipal print media, editorial offices of state print media published less than once a week which complied with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law shall provide paid space to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates. The rates and the terms of payment for such space shall be the same for all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. The total amount of paid space to be provided by the editorial offices of such print media to registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be determined by the editorial offices at their discretion. The date when election propaganda materials of a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc are to be published shall be determined by lot, with lot-drawing to be organized by the editorial offices of the print media with the participation of interested persons on the basis of written applications for participation in lot-drawing, submitted by registered candidates, authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs. Lot-drawing shall be conducted within the period established by Clause 5 of this article. Space shall be provided on the basis of a contract to be concluded after lot-drawing.
10. If, after lot-drawing, a registered candidate, regional group of candidates, political party and electoral bloc, which registered federal lists of candidates, refuse to use space in print media, they shall inform the editorial office of a relevant print media outlet about their decision not later than five days before the day on which the propaganda material was to be published and the editorial office shall be free to use the released space at its discretion.
11. The editorial offices of non-state print media may publish election propaganda materials on the basis of a contract to be concluded between the editorial office and a registered candidate, a political party and electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates. The editorial offices of non-state print media which did not comply with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law shall not be allowed to provide space in their print media to registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs for election campaigning.
12. The editorial offices of non-state print media which complied with the provisions of Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law may refuse to provide space in their print media for election campaigning.
13. Not later than two days before the day on which the election propaganda material is to be published a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall submit a payment order to a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation for remittance of the full amount of the payment for space to be used. A copy of the payment order endorsed by the branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall be presented by a registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc to the editorial office of a print media outlet before space therein is provided. If this condition is not complied with, space in such print media shall not be provided.
14. The branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit the money not later than the next banking day after receipt of the payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed two banking days within a Russian Federation subject and five banking days within the Russian Federation.
15. Election propaganda materials published in accordance with this article shall not be accompanied by any forms of editorial comment and by headlines and illustrations that are not agreed upon with registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
16. The editorial offices of print media which publish election propaganda materials shall not give preference to any candidate, political party, electoral bloc by changing the circulation and publication frequency of print media. This requirement shall not apply to the editorial offices of the print media founded by a candidates, political parties which registered federal lists of candidates, political parties comprised in electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates.
17. All materials which are published by print media and paid for from the electoral fund of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall indicate the candidate, political party, electoral bloc from whose electoral fund the given publication was paid for. If election propaganda materials were published free of charge, the publication shall indicate this fact and name the registered candidate, political party, electoral bloc that published this material. The responsibility for the compliance with this requirement shall be borne by the editorial office of a print media outlet.
1. State bodies and bodies of local self-government shall assist registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates in organizing meetings with voters, public debates and discussions, rallies, demonstrations and marches.
2. Applications for the provision of premises to hold meetings with voters organized by registered candidates and their agents, agents and authorized representatives of political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be considered by state bodies and bodies of local self-government within three days of the day of the submission thereof. Notifications of organizers of rallies, demonstrations and marches shall be considered by bodies of local self-government within seven days of the day when they are received, in accordance with Russian Federation laws.
3. On the basis of an application from a registered candidate, a political party and an electoral bloc which registered federal lists of candidates, premises which are suitable for holding election-related mass events and are state- or municipality-owned shall be made available by the owner, proprietor, free of charge and for a time to be established by the election commission of a Russian Federation subject or, at its request, by a district or territorial election commission, to registered candidates or their agents, agents and authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs for meetings with voters. Election commissions shall ensure equal possibilities to hold election-related mass events for registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs.
4. If the premises indicated in Clause 3 of this article or the premises owned by an organization with a charter capital in which the state and/or municipality holds a stake exceeding 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election were provided for holding an election-relation mass event to one of registered candidates, one of political parties or electoral blocs which registered a federal list of candidates, the owner, proprietor of the premises shall not refuse to provide the premises to other registered candidates, other political parties, electoral blocs on the same terms and conditions at some other time during the campaigning period.
5. Election campaigning and public speeches of candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts at events funded, organized or held for the population by bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government, state and municipal organizations shall be allowed only if all candidates registered in the given electoral district were notified of this event and if they were offered the possibility to speak at this event.
6. Candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which nominated a federal list (federal lists) of candidates may rent, on a contractual basis, buildings and premises belonging to citizens and organizations of all forms of ownership to hold meetings with voters, rallies, public debates and other election-related mass events.
7. Buildings and structures included in the State Register of Particularly Valuable Memorials of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation shall not be made available for campaigning purposes.
8. No election campaigning shall be allowed on the territory of military units, in military organizations and institutions, save the case where the only building (premises) suitable for meetings with voters is located within the territory of a military unit. Such building (premises) shall be provided for campaigning events by the commanding officer of the military unit at the request of a relevant election commission. Meetings of voters - servicemen with registered candidates or their agents, authorized representatives and agents of political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be organized outside the territory of the military unit by the commanding officer of the military unit together with a district election commission, subject to a mandatory requirement that all candidates registered in the given single-seat electoral district, authorized representatives of all political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates be invited to all such meetings not later than three days before the day of the meeting.
9. Security at election-related mass events shall be ensured by the state bodies in accordance with Russian Federation laws.
1. Candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which nominated federal lists of candidates shall be free to produce and distribute printed, audio-visual and other propaganda materials in the procedure established by Russian Federation laws.
2. Organizations providing advertising services shall publish propaganda materials of candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts and of political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates on equal terms and conditions.
3. Printshops shall ensure equal terms of payment for the production of propaganda materials for candidates, registered in single-seat electoral districts, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates. Information about the rates charged (in the Russian Federation currency) and other terms of payment for services of a printshop intending to print propaganda materials shall by published by the printshop not later than 30 days after the official publication of the decision to a call the election and shall be, within the same period, submitted to the election commission of the Russian Federation subject where this printshop is registered. A printshop which failed to comply with these conditions shall not be allowed to accept orders for production of propaganda materials.
4. All printed, audio-visual and other propaganda materials (with the exception of the materials distributed pursuant to Articles 60 and 61 of this Federal Law) shall indicate the names and legal addresses of the organization (the surname, first name and patronymic of a person and the name of the Russian Federation subject, raion, city, other populated center where the person's place of residence is located) that produced the material, the name of the organization (the surname, first name and patronymic of a person) that placed an order for the material, the information about the number of copies printed and the date of publication.
5. Prior to their distribution printed, audio-visual and other election propaganda materials or their copies, photos of other propaganda materials shall be submitted to a relevant district election commission or territorial election commission by a candidate or to the election commission of a Russian Federation subject or the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by a political party, an electoral bloc. Along with the aforementioned materials a relevant election commission shall be furnished with the information concerning the location (place of residence) of the organization (person) that produced and ordered these materials.
6. Propaganda materials shall not contain commercial advertisements.
7. Propaganda materials shall not be produced without prepayment made from a relevant electoral fund or in violation of the requirements set forth in Clauses 4 and 6 of this article.
8. Distribution of propaganda materials in violation of the requirements set forth in Clause 5 of this article and Clause 8, Article 57 of this Federal Law shall not be allowed.
9. Not later than 30 days before voting day, on the recommendation of a district election commission the bodies of local self-government shall designate special places for displaying printed election propaganda materials on the territory of each electoral precinct. Such places shall be convenient for voters to visit and shall be arranged so that voters could read the displayed information. The area of such places must be sufficient to display the materials of election commissions and printed propaganda materials of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs. Candidates registered in a single-seat electoral district as well as authorized representatives of political parties and electoral blocs which nominated federal lists of candidates may apply to a territorial election commission for a list of places where printed propaganda materials can be displayed. Candidates registered in a single-seat electoral district as well as political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be allocated equal areas for displaying their printed propaganda materials.
10. In cases which are not provided by Clause 9 of this article propaganda materials may be displayed (posted) inside premises, on buildings, structures or other objects only with the consent of their owners, proprietors. A property owned by the state, or a municipality, or an organization with a charter capital in which the state and/or municipality holds a stake exceeding 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election shall be made available to all registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs for displaying their propaganda materials on equal terms and conditions. No charge shall be paid for displaying propaganda materials on a state- or municipally-owned property
11. Propaganda materials shall not be placed (posted, displayed) on monuments, obelisks, buildings, structures and premises which have a historical, cultural or architectural value, inside the buildings and offices of election commissions and in polling stations or at a distance less than 50 meters from the entrance thereto.
12. The election commission which was informed about distribution of false printed, audio-visual and other propaganda materials or about distribution of election propaganda materials carried out in violation of the provisions of Clauses 4 to 8, 10 and 11 of this article shall take appropriate measures and may make an application to law enforcement and other authorities for stopping unlawful election campaigning and for seizing unlawful election propaganda materials.
1. Misuse of the freedom of mass information in election campaigning shall not be allowed. Election programs of registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates, other propaganda materials, speeches at meetings and rallies, articles in the mass media shall not contain calls for seizure of power, violent change of the constitutional system and violation of the integrity of the Russian Federation, warmongering. Propaganda exciting social, racial, national, religious hatred or enmity, misuse of the freedom of mass information in other forms defined by Russian Federation laws shall be prohibited. Propaganda shall not be regarded as fomenting social discord if it is aimed at the defense of the ideas of social justices. Propaganda violating Russian Federation laws on intellectual property shall be prohibited.
2. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs and their authorized representatives and agents as well as other persons and organizations involved in election campaigning shall not bribe voters: they shall not give voters money, gifts and other things otherwise than for the performance of organizational work (collection of voter signatures and other campaigning activities); remunerate voters who perform the said organizational work depending on the results of the voting or promise such remuneration; sell goods at reduced prices; distribute free of charge any goods other than printed materials (including illustrated booklets) and badges specially produced for the election campaign; render services free of charge or at reduced rates. While conducting election campaigning candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, their authorized representatives and agents or other persons and organizations shall not influence voters by promises of money, securities, other things (in particular, depending on the voting results) and by rendering services otherwise than on the basis of decisions of bodies of state power and local self-government taken in accordance with the federal laws.
3. During the period of an election campaign, the election and election results shall not be an object of lotteries, totalizators (bets) and other risk-based games.
4. In the course of an election campaign materials advertising the business activity and other activities unrelated to the election, which contain a candidate's name or picture, an emblem or other symbols of political parties and an electoral blocs which nominated a list (lists) of candidates, a political party, other all-Russia public associations comprised in an electoral bloc which nominated a list (lists) of candidates, shall be paid for only from a relevant electoral fund. Publication of such advertisements shall not be allowed on voting day and the day preceding voting day.
5. Candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which nominated a list (lists) of candidates, their authorized representatives and agents, political parties and other all-Russia public associations comprised in such electoral blocs as well as organizations registered after the commencement of an election campaign, which are founded, owned or possessed by such natural persons and organizations and/or which have governing bodies on which such natural persons or organizations are represented as well as other natural persons and legal entities acting at the request or on the instructions of such persons or organizations shall not engage in any charity activities in the course of an election campaign. In the course of an election campaign other natural persons and legal entities shall not engage in any charity activities at the request, on the instructions or on behalf of candidates, the said political parties and other all-Russia public associations, electoral blocs, agents and authorized representatives and shall not conduct election campaigning simultaneously with the pursuance of charity activities. Candidates, the said political parties and other all-Russia public associations, electoral blocs, agents and authorized representatives shall be prohibited from asking other natural persons and legal entities to render material or financial assistance to voters and organizations on the territory of a relevant electoral district.
6. Mass media organizations shall not make public (publish) propaganda and informational materials (including such materials which contain reliable information) which may damage the honor, dignity or business reputation of a candidate if these organizations cannot give a candidate a possibility to make public (publish) a denial or some other explanation in defense of his honor, dignity or business reputation before the end of the election campaigning period. When a possibility is offered to a candidate to publish (make public) free of charge a denial or some other explanation in defense of his honor, dignity or business reputation air time shall be provided at the same time of the day at which the original information was made public. The amount of air time provided for making a denial or explanation shall not be less than the amount of air time provided for presentation of the original information and shall not be less than two minutes. In print media a denial shall be printed in the same type, in the same place on the page and shall be allocated space not less than the space taken up by the original compromising text. The failure to provide such possibility to a candidate may serve as a ground for bringing to responsibility the organizations indicated in this clause and their officials under Russian Federation laws. The rules established by this clause shall not apply to the editorial offices of non-state print media founded by candidates, political parties, including political parties comprised in an electoral bloc, other all-Russia public association comprised in an electoral bloc.
7. Law enforcement and other authorities shall take measures to stop unlawful propaganda activities, prevent production of and seize false and unlawful printed, audio-visual and other election propaganda materials, identify the producers of such materials and the source from which they are paid for and promptly inform a relevant election commission about the facts established and measures taken.
8. Should a TV and radio broadcasting organization, the editorial office of a print media outlet violate the election campaigning rules laid down by this Federal Law, a relevant election commission may apply to law enforcement authorities, courts, bodies of executive power which implement the state policy vis-a-vis the mass media for stopping the unlawful propaganda activities and bringing the TV and radio broadcasting organization, editorial office of the print media outlet, their officials to responsibility under Russian Federation laws.
1. The expenditures incurred in the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma, in the activities of election commissions during the term of their powers, in the operation and development of the automation facilities as well as in the training of election officials and education of voters shall be paid by election commissions from the funds allocated for these purposes from the federal budget. These expenditures shall be included in the federal budget in accordance with the budget classification of the Russian Federation.
2. The funds allocated from the federal budget for the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be placed at the disposal of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within ten days of the official publication of the decision to call the election.
3. In the event of an early election of deputies to the State Duma the amount of funds allocated from the federal budget for its preparation and conduct shall not be less than the sum contained in the report of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the expenditure of funds for the preparation and conduct of the previous election of deputies of the State Duma (with due regard for the changes in the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law regulating labor remuneration as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the previous similar election of deputies of the State Duma).
4. If insufficient funds have been allocated from the federal budget for funding the election of deputies of the State Duma, including an early election, and if the funds allocated from the federal budget were not transferred in the due time or in full, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be entitled to obtain credits from banks on a competitive basis. In this case, the total amount of the funds for the preparation and conduct of the election shall not exceed the sum contained in the report of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the expenditures incurred in the preparation and conduct of the previous similar election of deputies of the State Duma (with due regard for the changes in the minimum monthly wage established by the federal law regulating labor remuneration as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the previous similar election of deputies of the State Duma). Within ten days of receipt of an appropriate request from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the Government of the Russian Federation shall issue a state guarantee for repayment of the credits, including interest thereon. The received credits and interest thereon shall be repaid from the federal budget. Allocations for meeting this liability shall be approved by a federal budget law for the coming fiscal year.
5. Not later than 60 days before voting day, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall distribute the funds allocated for the conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma to the election commissions of the Russian Federation subjects, which shall distribute the received funds to district and territorial election commissions not later than 40 and 30 days, respectively, before voting day. In the event of a by-election or early election of deputies of the State Duma and if the election is not funded in the due time or in full, the election commissions shall distribute the funds as they come in. The funds for the conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma in electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 5 and 6, Article 14 of this Federal Law shall be distributed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to state bodies in charge of the registration of voters in these electoral precincts not later than 30 days before voting day.
6. Chairmen of election commissions shall manage the funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma and shall be responsible for proper compliance of financial documents with the decisions taken by election commissions on financial matters and also shall ensure that the reports on the expenditure of these funds are submitted in the procedure and at the time established by this Federal Law.
7. After the end of the election of deputies of the State Duma the sums which were received from the federal budget but were not expended by election commissions shall remain in the accounts of election commissions acting on a permanent basis (with the exception of territorial and district election commissions) and shall be used for the purposes established by this Federal Law.
8. The unexpended credits shall be returned by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation to the bank from which they were obtained not later than three months from the date on which the general election results were officially published.
1. A candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district, a political party and an electoral bloc which nominated a federal list (federal lists) of candidates shall establish their own electoral funds. A candidate nominated only on a federal list of candidates, a political party and an electoral bloc which nominated candidates only in single-seat electoral districts shall not establish their own electoral funds.
2. Electoral funds of candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts may be formed only from the following sources:
(1) the own money of a candidate in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the maximum limit of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law;
(2) sums allocated to a candidate by the political party which nominated the candidate (from sources other than the electoral fund of the political party), by political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in the electoral bloc which nominated the candidate (from sources other than the electoral fund of the electoral bloc), in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the maximum level of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law;
(3) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities in an amount not exceeding, respectively 5 percent and 50 percent of the maximum level of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established in accordance with this Federal Law, for each citizen, each legal entity.
3. The maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund of a candidate shall not exceed six million rubles.
4. Electoral funds of political parties, electoral blocs may be formed only from the following sources:
(1) the own money of a political party, an electoral bloc in an amount not exceeding 50 percent of the maximum level of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party, an electoral bloc established in accordance with this Federal Law. The own money of an electoral bloc shall be formed by the sum total of the money transferred to the electoral bloc by political parties, other all-Russia public associations which formed this electoral bloc;
(2) voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities. The amount of a voluntary donation shall not exceed, respectively, 0.07 percent and 3.5 percent of the maximum level of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party, an electoral bloc established in accordance with this Federal Law, for each citizen, each legal entity.
5. The maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund of a political party, an electoral bloc shall not exceed 250 million rubles.
6. Every year, beginning with January 1, 2004, the maximum level of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc established by Clauses 3 and 5 of this article as well as the sums indicated in Clause 7, Article 70 of this Federal Law shall be indexed to the inflation rate as established by the federal budget law for the coming fiscal year. The provisions of the federal budget law for the coming year, which establish the inflation rate and come into force during the period of an election campaign, shall not be used for indexation of this maximum limit in the course of the given election campaign.
7. No donations to electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be allowed from:
(1) foreign states and foreign legal entities;
(2) foreign nationals;
(3) stateless persons;
(4) citizens of the Russian Federation who have not attained to the age of 18 years on voting day;
(5) Russian legal entities with foreign participation if the foreign stake in their charter capital exceeds 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election (for open joint-stock companies - as of the date of the list of shareholders for the previous year);
(6) international organizations and international public movements;
(7) bodies of state power and local self-government;
(8) state and municipal institutions and organizations;
(9) legal entities with a charter capital where the state or a municipality has a stake exceeding 30 per cent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election;
(10) organizations established by state and municipal bodies and by organizations indicated in Sub-clauses 5 and 9 of this clause;
(11) military units, military institutions and organizations and law enforcement authorities;
(12) charity organizations and religious associations as well as organizations established by them;
(13) anonymous donors. «Anonymous donor» means a citizen who has not indicated or indicated incorrectly any of the following data: the surname, first name and patronymic, the address of the place of residence; a legal entity which has not indicated or indicated incorrectly any of the following data: the taxpayer's identification number, the name, the bank details;
(14) legal entities registered less than a year before voting day.
8. The electoral funds shall be managed by a candidate, political party, electoral bloc that formed the fund. The resources of an electoral fund shall be used only for the purposes for which the electoral fund is established, namely:
(1) funding of organizational-technical arrangements for the collection of signatures in support of the nomination of a candidate, federal list of candidate, including remuneration of persons who were engaged for collection of voter signatures;
(2) election campaigning and payment for information and consulting services;
(3) payment for other services rendered by legal entities or citizens of the Russian Federation and payment of other expenses directly related to the conduct of an election campaign by candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;
(4) payment of an electoral deposit.
9. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall not use any sums of money to make payments for collection of voter signatures, conduct of an election campaign, organization of other election-related events other than the sums contributed to their electoral funds. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs may use only the sums which were remitted by contributors to special electoral accounts of their electoral funds prior to voting day in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law.
10. In the event of additional nomination of candidates, lists of candidates under the circumstances indicated in Clause 16, Article 47 and Clause 11, Article 52 of this Federal Law the maximum limit of all expenditures from an electoral fund of a previously registered candidate, a political party and an electoral bloc which previously registered federal lists of candidates shall be increased 1.5 times.
11. If a candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district was simultaneously nominated at some other election held on the territory of this single-seat electoral district or on a territory which includes the territory of this single-seat electoral district and has to form other electoral funds in addition to that indicated in Clause 1 of this article, the maximum limit of all expenditures from all these funds shall be the largest maximum limit indicated in this Federal Law, other federal laws, a law of a Russian Federation subject.
1. A candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district shall open a special electoral account of his electoral fund in the given electoral district after notifying a relevant election commission of his nomination. In the case indicated in Clause 11, Article 66 of this Federal Law a candidate nominated in a single-seat electoral district shall open a special electoral account after notifying in writing the election commission of a Russian Federation subject of his simultaneous nomination in several electoral districts at different elections.
2. A political party, an electoral bloc shall open a special electoral account for the formation of their electoral funds after receiving a copy of a federal list of candidates certified by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
3. A special electoral account for the formation of an electoral fund shall be opened with a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc may open only one special electoral account. Upon presentation of documents required by and executed in accordance with this Federal Law a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, without any delay, open a special electoral account for a candidate, political party, electoral bloc. The bank shall not charge any fee for opening and servicing a special electoral account and shall not pay any interest on the funds kept therein. All sums shall be deposited in special electoral accounts in the Russian Federation currency.
4. A candidate shall open a special electoral account in the single-seat electoral district where he was nominated, on the basis of a document to be issued by a relevant district election commission within three days of receipt of a notice of the nomination of the candidate as provided in Article 38 or 41 of this Federal Law or, if a district election commission was not yet formed, by the election commission of a Russian Federation subject. A candidate may, in the established procedure, ask his authorized representative for financial matters, registered by a relevant district election commission, to open a special electoral account and authorize this representative to manage funds in this account. A political party, an electoral bloc shall open a special electoral account on the basis of a document to be issued by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation after it certifies a copy of a federal list of candidates, simultaneously with the registration of authorized representatives for financial matters of a political party, an electoral bloc. If the rules established by this Federal Law for a candidate, political party, electoral bloc funding their election campaigns are violated, the responsibility for such violation shall be borne personally by the candidate, political party, electoral bloc.
5. If, after opening a special electoral account, a candidate changes the electoral district by a decision of a political party, an electoral bloc in the procedure established by Clause 9, Article 39 of this Federal Law, this candidate shall return the money remaining on this account to legal entities and natural persons that made donations (transfers) to his electoral fund in proportion to the sums contributed by them less postal charges as well as the money paid as an electoral deposit (if the electoral deposit was paid) in the procedure established by Article 68 of this Federal Law. After that the candidate shall submit the final financial report to the district election commission of the given electoral district and a copy of the financial report to the district election commission of the new electoral district. A special electoral account shall be opened in the new electoral district in the procedure established by this Federal Law.
6. All financial operations in relation to the payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered a federal list of candidates shall be discontinued on voting day. Financial operations in relation to the payment of expenses from special electoral accounts of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs that did not submit registration documents to a relevant election commission in the procedure established by this Federal Law, or were denied registration, or withdrew the statement of consent to stand for election, or withdrew their candidatures, or were recalled by a political party, an electoral bloc, or recalled a federal list of candidates, or whose registration was cancelled or annulled shall be discontinued by the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation on the instruction of a relevant election commission.
7. Based on an application of a candidate, a candidate nominated simultaneously in several electoral districts at different elections, a political party, an electoral bloc a relevant district election commission, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, respectively, may extend the period for the performance of the following financial operations:
(1) for a candidate, a political party, an electoral bloc - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) prior to the date when they were denied registration, the candidate withdrew his statement of consent to stand for election, the political party, electoral bloc recalled the candidate, the political party, electoral bloc recalled the federal list of candidates before the deadline established by this Federal Law for submission of signature sheets and other documents required for registration, respectively;
(2) for a registered candidate who withdrew his candidature, was recalled by a political party, an electoral bloc, for a political party, an electoral bloc which recalled a registered federal list of candidates, for a registered candidate whose registration was annulled or cancelled, for a political party, an electoral bloc the registration of whose federal list was annulled or cancelled - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) before the date of the decision to annul or cancel the registration, withdrawal of the candidature, recalling of the federal list of candidates, respectively;
(3) for other registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs - payment for work (services, goods) performed (rendered, acquired) before voting day.
1. Within five days of the official publication of the decision to call the election the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall request branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation to open a special account to accept electoral deposits from candidates, political parties and electoral blocs. Within five days of receipt of the request of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commission of a Russian Federation subject branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall open a special account for a relevant election commission to accept electoral deposits. The bank shall charge no fee for opening and servicing the account and shall pay no interest on the funds kept therein. Branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall remit funds paid as electoral deposits not later than the next banking day after receipt of an appropriate payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed two banking days.
2. A relevant district election commission, or, if it was not yet formed, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall advise a candidate, nominated in a single-seat electoral district, of the number of the special account opened by the election commission of the given Russian Federation subject at a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation for the payment of an electoral deposit when it receives the candidate's statement of consent to stand for election or, if the account was not yet opened at that time, immediately after its opening. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall advise a political party, an electoral bloc of the number of the commission's special account at a branch of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation for the payment of electoral deposits when the it certifies a federal list of candidates of the political party, electoral bloc but not earlier than the date when this account is opened or, if the account was not yet opened at that time, immediately after its opening.
3. Within three days of the formation of a district election commission, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall advise the district election commission of the number of the special account for the payment of electoral deposits and shall keep it informed about electoral deposits paid by candidates into the special account of the election commission of this Russian Federation subject for the payment of electoral deposits as such deposits are paid by candidates nominated in single-seat electoral districts.
4. An electoral deposit for a candidate shall be equal to 15 percent of the maximum limit of all expenditures from a candidate's electoral fund established by Clause 3, Article 66 of this Federal Law. An electoral deposit for a political party, an electoral bloc be equal to 15 percent of the maximum limit of all expenditures from the electoral fund of a political party, an electoral bloc established by Clause 5, Article 66 of this Federal Law.
5. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall pay the full amount of the electoral deposit in a lump sum out of their electoral funds into the special account of a relevant election commission for the payment of electoral deposits not earlier than 75 and not later than 45 days before voting day. An electoral deposit may be paid for a second time only if the documents required for the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates are submitted for a second time. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc may pay the electoral deposit out of the money which was contributed to their electoral funds with and without a proviso that the money was to be used for the payment of an electoral deposit. When paying an electoral deposit a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall indicate the purpose of the payment and the following data: a candidate - his surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth, number of the electoral district; a political party, an electoral bloc - their name. If a candidate, political party, electoral bloc pay an electoral deposit out of the money contributed to their electoral fund with a proviso that the money was intended for the payment of an electoral deposit, such candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall, when remitting the electoral deposit to the special account of a relevant election commission, inform in writing the election commission which is to register the candidates, federal list of candidates about the source (sources) from which this money was received to the special electoral account of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc: if from a citizen - his surname, first name and patronymic, place of residence, date of birth; if from a legal entity - its name, bank details.
6. Citizens and/or legal entities contributing money to the electoral fund of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc may indicate that this money or a part thereof is intended for the payment of an electoral deposit. In this case, the candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall not use this money for purposes other than the payment of an electoral deposit. If this money or a part thereof was not used for the payment of an electoral deposit, the candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall return it (less postal charges) to citizens and legal entities, who/which contributed (remitted) this money, not later than ten days after the expiry of the period for submission of documents for the registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates.
7. If a candidate, political party, electoral bloc paid an electoral deposit into the special account of a relevant election commission in a larger amount than established by Clause 4 of this article, the excess amount shall be returned to his/its electoral fund by the election commission within ten days of the day when the electoral deposit was received to the special account.
8. The received sums shall be returned by an election commission to the corresponding electoral funds within 20 days of the day when these sums were received to the special account in the following cases:
(1) a candidate, political party, electoral bloc paid an electoral deposit into the special account of the election commission in a smaller amount than established by Clause 4 of this article;
(2) an electoral deposit was paid after the expiry of the period for the submission of documents for the registration of candidates, federal lists of candidates;
(3) an electoral deposit was paid out of an electoral fund formed in violation of this Federal Law.
9. If a political party, an electoral bloc recall a candidate, federal list of candidates (save the cases provided by Clause 12, Article 52 of this Federal Law) or if the electoral district where a candidate is nominated was changed in accordance with Clause 9, Article 39 of this Federal Law, the paid electoral deposit shall be returned by the election commission to the corresponding electoral fund within ten days of the day when the political party, electoral bloc, candidate submit an appropriate application (notification) to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commission of a Russian Federation subject, district election commission.
10. If a candidate, federal list of candidates was registered on the basis of submitted voter signatures, an electoral deposit paid into the special account of an election commission by this candidate, the political party or electoral bloc which nominated the federal list of candidates shall be returned to the corresponding electoral fund within ten days of the day of the registration of the candidate, federal list of candidates.
11. If, according to vote returns, a registered candidate received not less than five percent of the total vote in a single-seat electoral district or was elected and if, according to vote returns, a federal list of candidates received not less than three percent of the total vote in the federal electoral district or if a federal list of candidates was included in the distribution of deputy seats, the electoral deposit paid by the candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall be returned by the election commission to the electoral fund of such candidate, political party, electoral bloc within five days of the day of the official publication of the election results.
12. An electoral deposit that is not to be returned in accordance with Clauses 8 to 11 of this article shall be remitted by the election commission to the federal budget within 60 days of voting day.
13. Within ten working days of the day when an electoral deposit was returned to their special electoral accounts by a relevant election commission, a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall return to citizens and legal entities the money (less postal charges) which was contributed by them to the electoral fund with a proviso that it was to be used for the payment of an electoral deposit. The remainder, if any, of the electoral deposit returned by an election commission shall be included in the balance of the unexpended money of the electoral fund of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc.
14. The money paid as an electoral deposit shall be remitted to the federal budget or returned to electoral funds by branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation on the basis of a decision of a relevant election commission. An election commission shall not use the money paid as an electoral deposit in any manner other than that established by this article.
1. Voluntary donations to an electoral fund of a candidate, political party, electoral blocs shall be accepted personally from Russian Federation citizens by post offices or credit institutions only upon production of a passport or an equivalent identity document. In the payment order a citizen making a donation shall indicate the following information about himself: the surname, first name and patronymic, date of birth and address of the place of residence, series and number of the passport or an equivalent identity document, citizenship.
2. Voluntary donations of legal entities to an electoral fund of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall be made by means of non-cash transfers to a special electoral account. In the payment order a legal entity making a donation shall indicate the following information about itself: the taxpayers identification number; name; date of registration; bank details; absence of a state or municipal stake in its charter capital or presence and size of such stake; absence of a foreign stake in its charter capital or presence and size of such stake; absence among its founders of state and municipal bodies and legal entities indicated in Sub-clauses 5 and 9, Clause 7, Article 66 of this Federal Law.
3. Voluntary donations of citizens and legal entities shall be remitted and credited to a special electoral account by post offices and credit institutions not later than the next banking day after receipt of the payment order. The time for processing a non-cash payment shall not exceed two banking days within a Russian Federation subject and five banking days within the Russian Federation.
4. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc may return any donation, with the exception of anonymous ones, to donors. If a voluntary donation was made to an electoral fund of a candidate or to an electoral fund of a political party, an electoral bloc from citizens or legal entities that have no right to make such donations, or in violation of the provisions of Clauses 1 and 2 of this article, or in an amount exceeding that established by Article 66 of this Federal Law, the candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall, within ten days of receipt of the donation to the special electoral account, return it to the donor fully or in an amount exceeding the maximum limit of donations (less postal charges), as the case may be, indicating the reasons for the return. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall not be held responsible for acceptance of donations whose donors indicated wrong data required under Clauses 1 and 2 of this article, if they were not informed of the inadmissibility of these donations in the due time.
5. Within ten days after anonymous donations are received to the special electoral account a candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall remit these donations to the federal budget.
6. Citizens and legal entities may render financial assistance to a candidate, political party, electoral bloc only through appropriate electoral funds. No paid work shall be performed, goods sold, paid services rendered if they are directly or indirectly related to, and used for achieving a definite result at, the election, without a written consent of a candidate or his authorized representatives for financial matters, an authorized representatives for financial matters of a political party, an electoral bloc and without payment therefor from a relevant electoral fund. Legal entities, their branches, representative offices and other divisions shall not perform any work, sell goods, render any services directly or indirectly related to, and used for achieving a definite result at, the election, free of charge or at unreasonably low (high) rates. Material support may be rendered to a candidate, political party, electoral bloc only if it is paid for from an electoral fund of the candidate, political party, electoral bloc. In the course of an election campaign a citizen may perform work for and render services to a candidate, political party, electoral bloc voluntarily, personally and free of charge, without involvement of third persons.
1. The procedure for opening and maintaining special electoral accounts, the accounting and reporting requirements as well as the forms of reports of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs with regard to the money contributed to and expended from their electoral funds shall be determined by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and agreed upon with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. A candidate, political party, electoral bloc shall keep records of the money contributed to and expended from their electoral funds.
2. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall file financial reports with relevant election commissions within the following periods:
(1) the first financial report - when the documents required for registration are submitted to a relevant election commission as prescribed by this Federal Law; the report shall be drawn up as of the date not more than five days before the date when the report is submitted;
(2) the second financial report - not earlier than 12 days and not later than 10 days before voting day; the report shall be drawn up as of the date five days before the date when the is submitted;
(3) the final financial report - not later than 30 days after the official publication of election results. The final financial report shall be submitted together with the primary financial documents confirming receipts to and expenditures from an electoral fund as well as the materials indicated in Clause 5, Article 63 of this Federal Law.
3. If a candidate lost his status, the obligation to submit the financial report shall be borne by a citizen who was a candidate. The financial report of a political party, an electoral bloc shall be submitted by an authorized representative for financial matters of the political party, electoral bloc.
4. Copies of financial reports of registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates shall be made available to the mass media by a relevant election commission within five days of their receipt.
5. At least once a week and, less than ten days before voting day, at least once every three banking days the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall furnish to a relevant district election commissions, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the information concerning the sums received to and expended from special electoral accounts of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs according to the forms established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. For this purpose use may be made of the state automated information system. Periodically, but at least once every two weeks before voting day, a relevant district election commission, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall furnish the information about sums received to and expended from electoral funds to the mass media. for publication. Election commissions shall disclose the information supplied by the branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation about sums received to and expended from electoral funds to registered candidates, political parties and electoral blocs which registered federal lists of candidates and to the mass media at their official request. At the request of a relevant election commission and, with regard to a electoral fund, also at the request of a candidate, political party, electoral bloc branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall, within three days or, three days before voting day - immediately, furnish certified copies of primary financial documents confirming receipt of sums to and their expenditure from electoral funds.
6. Within ten days of a request made by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the tax authorities of the Russian Federation shall submit the following documents to this commission:
(1) copies of consolidated financial reports of political parties which nominated registered federal lists of candidates and political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in electoral blocs which nominated registered federal lists of candidates for four accounting years preceding the year of the election. If a political party, other all-Russia public associations were registered less than four years before the year of the election such reports shall be submitted for the period which commences from the year of the registration of the political party, other all-Russia public association and ends in the year preceding the year of the election;
(2) information at the disposal of the tax authorities about audits of the consolidated financial reports of political parties which nominated federal lists of candidates, political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in electoral blocs, including information about infractions in the financial activity of these political parties, other all-Russia public associations.
7. The national and regional state print media shall publish the information furnished by election commissions about sums received to and expended from electoral funds as well the information from the consolidated financial reports of political parties, other all-Russia public associations indicated in Clause 6 of this article. The following information shall be subject to mandatory publication:
(1) information about financial operations which involve expenditure of money from an electoral fund (of a political party, other all-Russia public associations) in an amount exceeding 800 thousand rubles for a political party, other all-Russia public associations, an electoral bloc and 200 thousand rubles for a candidate;
(2) information about legal entities which contributed sums to an electoral fund (to the account of a political party, other all-Russia public associations) in the form of a voluntary donation exceeding 400 thousand rubles for a political party, other all-Russia public associations, an electoral bloc and 100 thousand rubles for a candidate;
(3) information about the number of people who contributed sums to an electoral fund (to the account of a political party, other all-Russia public associations) in the form of a voluntary donation exceeding 20 thousand rubbles;
(4) information about the sums returned to donors and the reasons therefor;
(5) information about the total amount of money received to an electoral fund (to the account of a political party, other all-Russia public associations) and the total amount of money expended therefrom.
8. Within five days of receipt of a request from an election commission the federal bodies of state power of the Russian Federation, bodies of state power of Russian Federation subjects and the bodies authorized by them, which are in charge of registration of citizens and legal entities shall, free of charge, verify the information indicated by the citizens and legal entities when they were making voluntary donations to electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs and shall inform the election commission of the results of such verification. This information shall be submitted to election commissions according to the forms established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. In this case, use may be made of the state automated information system. At the request of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs a relevant election commission shall, without any delay, present to them the information which it has at its disposal as of the date of the request. If an election commission receives information about donations made in violation of Clause 7, Article 66 of this Federal Law, this information shall be promptly made known to candidates, political parties, electoral blocs concerned.
9. A candidate simultaneously nominated in several electoral districts at different elections shall submit copies of his financial reports for each electoral district, in which he is nominated, to the election commission of a Russian Federation subject at intervals established for submission of financial reports by this Federal Law, other federal laws, the law of the Russian Federation subject.
1. After voting day, prior to submission of the final financial report but not before an election commission returns the electoral deposit (if such a deposit was paid), a candidate, a political party and an electoral bloc which did not register a federal list of candidates, a political party and an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates which, according to vote returns, received not less than two percent of the vote in the federal electoral district or which was included in the distribution of deputy seats, as well as a political party, an electoral bloc which recalled a federal list of candidates because of compelling circumstances shall return unexpended sums remaining in their special electoral account to citizens and legal entities that made voluntary donations or transfers to their electoral funds, in proportion to the contributed amounts, less postal charges. An electoral deposit shall be returned in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 68 of this Federal Law.
2. A political party, an electoral bloc which do not fall within Clause 1 of this article shall fully compensate state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state print media for the cost of free air time and free space in print media provided to them. Such compensation shall be paid by political parties, electoral blocs out of their electoral funds before the day of the submission of the final financial report.
3. Within three days of the official publication of the general election results, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall deliver to state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state print media the list of political parties, electoral blocs falling within Clause 2 of this article and political parties, other all-Russia public associations which were comprised at the relevant time in the electoral blocs falling within Clause 2 of this article, along with their legal addresses and certified copies of excerpts from joint decisions of electoral blocs on the procedure for compensation of the cost of free air time and space in print media provided to them.
4. Within ten days of the official publication of the general election results, state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state print media shall advise each political party, each electoral bloc falling within Clause 2 of this article, each political party and each other all-Russia public association, which were comprised in an electoral bloc falling within Clause 2 of this article, of the amount and cost of the free air time and free space in print media which were provided to them as well as their own legal addresses and bank details.
5. The cost of free air time and free space in print media shall be determined by multiplying the amount of air time and space, provided to political parties, electoral blocs in accordance with Clauses 1 to 3, Article 60 and Clauses 1 to 3, Article 61 of this Federal Law, by the rates charged for air time and space in print media, as fixed and published by TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media in accordance with Clause 9, Article 59 of this Federal Law. If a political party, an electoral bloc which registered a federal list of candidates used free air time for joint campaigning events indicated in Clause 4, Article 60 of this Federal Law, the sums to be paid by each political party, each electoral bloc shall be determined by TV and radio broadcasting organizations by dividing the total amount due into equal parts depending on the total number of the participants (political parties, electoral blocs) in each of these joint campaigning events. No compensation shall be paid for the provided free air time and space in print media if a political party, an electoral bloc officially refused to use such air time and space as and when established by Clause 16, Article 60 and Clause 10, Article 61 of this Federal Law
6. A political party, an electoral bloc which do not fall within Clause 1 of this article shall not return unexpended sums from their electoral funds to citizens and legal entities who/which made voluntary donations and transfers to these electoral funds before the political party, electoral bloc pay compensation for free air time and free space in print media to TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media. After paying the cost of free air time and free space to TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media a political party, an electoral bloc which do not fall within Clause 1 of this article shall remit money from the remainder of their electoral funds to the accounts of citizens and legal entities who/which made donations and transfers in proportion to the amounts thereof.
7. Upon the elapse of 60 days after voting day branches of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation shall transfer the sums remaining on special electoral accounts of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs to the federal budget on the basis of written instructions of relevant election commissions.
8. If an electoral fund has no money left or its financial resources are insufficient, political parties, electoral blocs shall pay the cost of free air time and free space in print media provided to them out of their own funds. If the cost of the provided free air time and free space in print media has to be paid by an electoral bloc, then the amount to be paid shall be distributed in equal parts between the electoral parties, other all-Russia public associations which were comprised this electoral bloc as of voting day, unless some other manner of distribution is provided for in the joint decision on the establishment of the electoral bloc which was earlier submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
9. A political party, an electoral bloc, which do not fall within Clause 1 of this article and which did not comply with the requirements of Clause 2 of this article before submission of the final financial report, may make a payment for the provided free air time and free space to TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of print media within 12 months of voting day, if a contract for the provision of free air time, free space concluded with the TV and radio broadcasting organizations, the editorial offices of the print media does not specify otherwise.
10. If the obligations assumed under a contract for the provision of free air time, free space in print media were not fulfilled, a relevant TV and radio broadcasting organization, the editorial office of a relevant print media outlet may apply to a court for collection of the sums due to them after the payment period specified in the contract expires.
11. After the end of an election campaign the obligations imposed by this article on electoral blocs shall be borne by the political parties, other all-Russia public associations which participated in the election campaign as members of this electoral bloc.
12. Not later than 13 months after voting day, state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state print media shall inform the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation about political parties, other all-Russia public associations falling within Clause 2 of this article, which did not pay full compensation for the cost of the provided free air time and free space in print media and about the progress of collection, through courts, of debts arising out of non-fulfillment of the obligations under a contract indicated in Clause 10 of this article.
13. Within ten days of the official publication of the decision to call the election (with the exception of a repeat election or a by-election in single-seat electoral districts), state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state pint media shall furnish to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation the information about the sums owed them by political parties, other all-Russia public associations falling within Clause 2 of this article, which did not pay full compensation for the cost of the provided free air time and free space in print media as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election, as well as the information about such debts collected through courts.
14. Political parties, other all-Russia public associations which acted independently or within electoral blocs at the previous election of deputies of the State Duma and which fall within Clause 2 of this article and owe debts to state TV and radio broadcasting organizations and the editorial offices of state print media as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election as well as their legal successors shall not be entitled to free air time and free space in print media at the election. This provision shall also apply to electoral blocs formed with the participation of such political parties and other all-Russia public associations.
15. Based on the information submitted in accordance with Clause 13 of this article the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall make up a list of political parties, other all-Russia public associations which fall within Clause 14 of this article. This list shall be delivered to the mass media.
1. The funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election, financial support of the activity of election commissions, operation and development of automation facilities, training of election officials and education of voters shall be used by election commissions at their discretion for the purposes defined by this Federal Law.
2. The allocations from the federal budget, including the funds remaining from previous periods, shall be used to finance the expenditures of election commissions incidental to:
(1) payment of travel expenses (with the exception of taxi trips and chartered transport) to candidates registered in single-seat electoral districts and candidates included in registered federal lists of candidates in accordance with Article 50 of this Federal Law;
(2) additional remuneration of voting members and the staff of election commissions, payment of compensations to voting members of election commissions relieved from their main job for the period of the preparation and conduct of the election and payments to citizens who work in commissions on the basis of civil-law contracts;
(3) production of printed materials and publishing activity;
(4) acquisition, delivery and installation of equipment (including technological equipment), other tangible assets required for the conduct of the election and exercise of the powers of election commissions;
(5) payment of travel expenses, including expenses on the organization of voting in remote and hard-to-reach areas;
(6) delivery and safekeeping of electoral documents, their preparation for the transfer to archives and their disposal;
(7) development of the electoral system, including introduction of new electoral technologies, automation facilities, training of election officials and education of voters, implementation of purpose-oriented programs;
(8) business trips and other purposes connected with the conduct of the election, the exercise of the powers of election commissions and their activity.
3. Additional remuneration may be paid to voting members of an election commission for the service on the election commission during the period of the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of State Duma. A voting member of an election commission relieved from his main job for this period at a commission's request shall retain his main job (position) and shall be paid compensation for the period during which he was relieved from the main job. The compensation and additional labor remuneration shall be paid from and within the limits of the funds allocated from the federal budget for the conduct of the election, in the amount and procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
4. Labor remuneration of voting members of an election commission working on a permanent (staff) basis and of members of the staff of an election commission shall be paid within the limits of funds allocated from the federal budget to the election commission, in the amount and procedure established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
5. The procedure for opening and servicing bank accounts, accounting and reporting procedures and the procedure for transferring federal budget funds to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, other election commissions for the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be established in accordance with the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum.» The banks shall not charge any fee for opening and servicing accounts of election commissions and shall not pay any interest on the funds kept therein. Election commissions shall keep accounting records for the funds allocated from the federal budget.
6. The forms of reports of election commissions on receipt and expenditure of funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election and the forms to be used for presenting information about the sums received to and expended from electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and agreed with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
7. A precinct election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given precinct election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election to a territorial election commission not later than ten days after voting day. A territorial election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given territorial election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election to the election commission of a Russian Federation subject not later than 20 days after voting day.
8. A district election commission shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given district election commission for the preparation and conduct of the election and the information about the sums received to and expended from electoral funds of candidates to the election commission of a Russian Federation subject not later than 35 days after the day of the official publication of the election results in the single-seat electoral district.
9. The election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall submit a report on the receipt and expenditure of federal budget funds allocated to the given election commission of a Russian Federation subject for the preparation and conduct of the election and the information about the sums received to and expended from electoral funds of candidates in each single-seat electoral district to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 50 days after the day of the official publication of the general election results.
10. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall submit a report on the expenditure of federal budget funds and the information about the sums received to and expended from electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and to the mass media not later than three months after the day of the official publication of the general election results. This report and this information shall be published by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in its official bulletin not later than one month after their submission to the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
1. The following supervisory-auditing services shall be organized in election commissions to exercise control over correct use of funds allocated to election commissions; monitor the sources, recording and use of the financial resources of electoral funds; audit financial reports of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs; verify the information submitted by candidates about their property, income and sources of the income:
(1) the supervisory-auditing service of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(2) the supervisory-auditing service of the election commission of a Russian Federation subject;
(3) supervisory-auditing services of district election commissions.
2. The supervisory-auditing service shall include the head and the deputy head (deputy heads) of the supervisory-auditing service, members of a relevant election commission appointed to the supervisory-auditing service and specialists of the supervisory-auditing service from among the executives and specialists of state (law-enforcement, fiscal, tax and other) bodies, organizations and institutions, including the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, the chief department (national bank) of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in a Russian Federation subject. At the request of a relevant election commission these bodies shall, not later than a month after the day of the official publication of the decision to call the election, assign specialists to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and the election commission of a Russian Federation subject for a period of not less than five months and to a district election commission for a period of not less than three months.
3. For the period of their work in the supervisory-auditing service specialists indicated in Clause 2 of this article shall be relieved from their main job but shall keep this job (position) and continue to receive the salary and other allowances thereat. These specialists may also receive a remuneration from the funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of the election.
4. The statute of the supervisory-auditing service shall be approved by a relevant election commission. The organizational, legal and logistical support of the supervisory-auditing service of an election commission shall be provided by the election commission.
5. At the request of a relevant election commission the supervisory-auditing service shall:
(1) audit financial reports of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, lower election commissions;
(2) organize verification of the information submitted by candidates, authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs about the property, income and its sources, monetary deposits, securities, shares of stock and other forms of participation in the capital of commercial organizations, property located outside the territory of the Russian Federation, including such property under trust management;
(3) monitor compliance of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs with the rules established for funding election campaigning, other activities directly related to an election campaign;
(4) request information concerning all matters within its scope of competence and receive such information from candidates, political parties, electoral blocs, election commissions;
(5) make applications to the federal bodies of executive power, other state bodies, organizations of all forms of ownership and to citizens on all matters within the scope of its competence, request the necessary information and documents relating to election funding. Responses to applications of the supervisory-auditing service and the requested materials shall be provided within ten days or, during five and less days before voting day and on voting day - immediately;
(6) prepare documents recording financial irregularities in election funding;
(7) ask a relevant election commission to call to account candidates, political parties, electoral blocs as well as citizens and legal entities for the infractions committed by them in the funding of the election campaign;
(8) involve experts in audits and in the preparation of reports and expert assessments.
6. When exercising its powers the supervisory-auditing service may use the state automated information system.
1. The polling station shall be placed at the disposal of a precinct election commission free of charge by the head of a municipality (if the charter of the municipality does not provide for an office of head of a municipality, by a person authorized to do so by the representative body of local self-government), and, in the cases provided by this Federal Law, by the commanding officer of a military unit, ship captain, head of a polar station, head of a diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation.
2. The polling station shall have a hall with booths or other special places for secret voting, provided with a lighting system and writing utensils other than pencils.
3. Inside or directly in front of the polling station a precinct election commission shall set up a notice-board for displaying the following information about all candidates, federal lists of candidates and about all political parties, electoral blocs entered in the ballot:
(1) the biographical data of candidates in the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation but not less detailed than the data indicated in the ballot;
(2) if a candidate, federal list of candidates were nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc, the words «nominated by the political party (electoral bloc)» and the name of the given political party, electoral bloc;
(3) if a candidate nominated his candidature himself, the word «self-nominated»;
(4) information about the method of the registration of a candidate, federal list of candidates (on the basis of voter signatures, electoral deposit). This information need not be indicated in the cases provided by Clauses 6 to 8, Article 45 of this Federal Law;
(5) information about the income and property of candidates within the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(6) information from the financial reports of political parties (including political parties comprised in electoral blocs), which registered federal lists of candidates, about verification of these reports by tax authorities of the Russian Federation, within the scope established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
(7) information, if any, about the inaccuracy of the data submitted by candidates in accordance with Clause 7, Article 38, Clauses 4 and 11, Article 41 of this Federal Law.
4. If a registered candidate, including a candidate on a federal list of candidates, has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, this fact shall be indicated in the information materials;
5. If, apart from Russian citizenship a registered candidate, including a candidate on a federal list of candidates, has foreign citizenship, the information materials shall indicate this fact and the name of the corresponding foreign state.
6. The notice-board shall display samples of marked ballots which must not contain names of candidates registered in the given single-seat electoral district, names of candidates on registered federal lists of candidates, names of political parties, electoral blocs participating in this election.
7. Information about registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall be arranged in the information materials in the order which was determined when the form and the text of ballots were approved.
8. The materials displayed on the notice-board shall be free from any election propaganda.
9. The notice-board shall display excerpts from the criminal and administrative legislation of the Russian Federation establishing responsibility for the violation of electoral rights of Russian Federation citizens. A precinct election commission shall arrange these materials so that voters could easily read them.
10. At the polling station there shall be federal lists of candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
11. Enlarged forms of the protocols of vote returns shall be provided at the polling station to record vote returns as they are determined. The enlarged form of the protocol of vote returns shall be posted before the commencement of voting so that it is within the field of vision of members of a precinct election commission, observers, at a distance at which they can read the information contained therein.
12. Inside the polling station there shall be stationary ballot boxes. The functions of stationary ballot boxes may be performed by vote-counting machines, including programmed technical complexes for processing of ballots. Vote-counting machines shall be used in 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,» in accordance with the Instructions approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
13. The polling station shall be fitted out so that the places where ballots are issued, as well as the voting booths and the ballot boxes are all located within the field of vision of members of a precinct election commission, observers.
1. Ballots shall be documents subject to strict accountability. Numbering of ballots shall not be allowed. The procedure for controlling the production of ballots and their quantity shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 45 days before voting day.
2. Ballots shall be produced with the use of special paper (paper with water marks or colored paper) or special paint. A ballot blank shall be provided with a micro-inscription or a protective grid printed thereon.
3. At the election of deputies of the State Duma printed ballots shall be produced for the federal electoral district and for single-seat electoral districts. Ballots for voting in the federal electoral district and in single-seat electoral district shall differ in form. The form and the Russian text of the ballot for the federal electoral district and the form of the ballot for a single-seat electoral district shall be approved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 32 days before voting day. The Russian text of the ballot for a single-seat electoral district shall be approved by a district election commission not later than 29 days before voting day. The text shall be printed only on one side of the ballot.
4. A ballot for the federal electoral district shall contain the abbreviated names of political parties, electoral blocs, which registered federal lists of candidates, and their emblems (if the emblems were submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in accordance with Clause 4, Article 35 of this Federal Law) printed in black and white. Under the name of each electoral bloc there shall be abbreviated names of political parties, other all-Russia public associations comprised in this electoral bloc. Lot-drawing shall be organized by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation with participation of authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs not later than 36 days before voting day. The number drawn by a political party, an electoral bloc shall be retained by them until the end of the election campaign. Placed under the name of a political party, an electoral bloc shall be the surname, first name and patronymic of each of the first three candidates from the federal part of a federal list of candidates nominated by this political party, electoral bloc. In each Russian Federation subject, after the aforementioned information the ballot shall also indicate the name of the regional group of candidates on the federal list of candidates of the given political party, electoral bloc, corresponding to the given Russian Federation subject, and the surname, first name and patronymic of each of the first three candidates from this regional group of candidates. If a federal list of candidates does not have a federal part, the ballot shall indicate the name of the regional group of candidates and the surname, first name and patronymic of each of the first three candidates from this regional group of candidates.
5. A blank box shall be placed to the right of the name of each political party, each electoral bloc. A line reading «Against all federal lists of candidates» with a blank box to the right thereof shall be placed at the end of the list of political parties, electoral blocs.
6. In the ballot for a single-seat electoral district surnames of registered candidates shall be arranged in the alphabetical order. The ballot shall contain the following information about each candidate:
(1) the surname, first name, patronymic;
(2) the year of birth;
(3) the place of residence (name of a Russian Federation subject, raion, city, other populated center);
(4) the main place of work or service, official position (occupation if there is no main place of work or service). If a candidate is a deputy and exercises his powers on a non-permanent basis, this fact and the name of the representative body;
(5) if a candidate was nominated by a political party, an electoral bloc, the words «Nominated by the political party (electoral bloc)» and the abbreviated name of the political party, electoral bloc;
(6) if a candidate nominated his candidature himself, the word «self-nominated»;
(7) information about the method of registration (on the basis of voter signatures, electoral deposit). This information need not be indicated in the cases provided by Clauses 6 and 7, Article 45 of this Federal Law.
If a registered candidate indicated his membership in some public association in accordance with Clause 8, Article 38 or Clause 4, Article 41 of this Federal Law, the ballot shall also indicate the abbreviated name of this public association and the status of the registered candidate in this public association.
If a registered candidate is also nominated on a federal list of candidates, this fact shall be indicated in the ballot.
A blank box shall be placed to the right of the data of each registered candidate. A line reading «Against all candidates» with a blank box to the right thereof shall be placed at the end of the list of registered candidates.
7. If a registered candidate whose surname, first name and patronymic is indicated in the ballot has a conviction that has not been cancelled and annulled, the ballot shall indicate the information about the candidate's conviction. If a registered candidate whose data is indicated in the ballot has Russian Federation citizenship and foreign citizenship, the ballot shall indicate the information about the foreign citizenship of the registered candidate. The information about convictions and foreign citizenship shall be indicated in the ballot on the basis of the appropriate documents submitted to an election commission before approval of the