Federal Law Rusia

8/6/2019 Federal Law Rusia

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FEDERAL LAWOn the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the RussianFederation

Adopted by the State Duma on November 20, 2002 Approved by the Federation Council on December 11, 2002

C hapter I. General

Article 1. Basic Principles of the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

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 thebasis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Participation of a RussianFederation citizen in the election shall be free and voluntary. Nobody shall compel a RussianFederation citizen to participate or not to participate in the election or shall prevent freeexpression of his will .

Article 2. Legislation on the Election of Deputies of the State Duma

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 O n Basic Guarantees of theElectoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in aReferendum (hereafter Federal Law `O n Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and theRight 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 inthe Federal Law O n Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of theRussian Federation to Participate in a Referendum, unless otherwise provided by this FederalLaw.

Article 3. Elections to the State Duma

1. Under the Constitution of the Russian Federation 450 deputies shall be elected to the StateDuma.

2. Two hundred and twenty five deputies of the State Duma shall be elected in single-seatelectoral 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 inthe Russian Federation subjects where the number of voters is less than the uniformrepresentation quota. The uniform quota of voters' representation for a single-seat electoraldistrict shall be determined by dividing the total number of voters residing on the territory of theRussian Federation and registered in the Russian Federation in accordance with the Federal

Law O n Basic Guarantees of the Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation to Participate in a Referendum by the total number (225) of single-seat electoraldistricts.

3. Two hundred and twenty five deputies of the State Duma shall be elected in the federalelectoral district in proportion to the number of votes cast for a federal lists of candidatesnominated by political parties, electoral blocs.

Article 4. Electoral Rights of a Russian Federation C itizen at the Electionof Deputies of the State Duma


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1. A Russian Federation citizen who has attained to the age of 18 years on voting day shall beentitled 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 andwhose place of residence is within the territory of a relevant electoral district shall be entitled toelect 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 beentitled 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 thework of election commissions, including determination of vote returns and establishment of election results, and in the performance of other electoral actions, in the procedure establishedby this Federal Law, other federal laws.

4. Eligible for election as a deputy of the State Duma shall be a Russian Federation citizen whohas attained to the age of 21 years on voting day.

5. A Russian Federation citizen who resides or stays outside the territory of the RussianFederation during the preparation and conduct of the election shall have the same electoralrights 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 heldin custody under a court sentence.

7. A Russian Federation citizen deprived of the right to occupy state offices for a definite periodby a court decision which has come into force shall not be registered as a candidate for electionto the State Duma if the voting at the election of deputies of the State Duma is to take placebefore the expiry of the period established by the court.

Article 5. C alling of the Election of Deputies of the State Duma

1. The conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma within the period established bythe 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 Dumaof a new convocation shall be called by the President of the Russian Federation. The decisionto call the election shall be taken not earlier than 110 days and not later than 90 days beforevoting day. Voting day at the election of deputies of the State Duma shall be the second Sundayof the month in which the constitutional term of the State Duma of the previous convocationexpires. The constitutional term for which the State Duma is to be elected shall commence fromthe day of its election. The day of the election of the State Duma shall be the day of voting as aresult of which it was elected as a competent body. The decision to call the election shall beofficially 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 StateDuma 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 RussianFederation on the first or second Sunday of the month which follows the month in which theconstitutional term of the State Duma of the previous convocation expires. The decision of theCentral Election Commission of the Russian Federation to call the election shall be publishednot 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 theConstitution of the Russian Federation the President of the Russian Federation shallsimultaneously call an early election of deputies of the State Duma of a new convocation. In thiscase voting day shall be the last Sunday before the day on which three months expire from the


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day of the dissolution of the State Duma. The decision to call an early election shall be officiallypublished 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 StateDuma 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 theRussian 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 theRussian Federation to call the election shall be published not later than seven days after theexpiry of the period established by Clause 4 of this article for the official publication of thedecision 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 theestablished procedure, the election shall be held on the next Sunday.

Article 6. The Right to Nominate C andidates for Election to the State Duma

1. Candidates for election to the State Duma (hereafter candidates) may be nominateddirectly 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 partieswhich are entitled under Federal Law No. 95-FZ of July 11, 2001 O n Political Parties (hereafter Federal Law `On Political Parties') to participate in the election and nominate listsof candidates (hereafter political parties) and by electoral blocs.

Article 7. Preparation and C onduct of the Election of Deputies of the State

Duma by ElectionC

ommissions1. The preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma, the measures toensure the realization and protection of the electoral rights of citizens and control over theobservance 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 electioncommissions 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 federalbodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of the Russian Federation subjects, statebodies 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 electioncommissions may use the state automated information system to inform voters about theprogress of the preparation and conduct of the election and about the election results, to searchfor, acquire, replenish, process, transmit and store the information used in the course of the


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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 FederalLaw, other federal laws.

Article 8. Right to Election C ampaigning

1. Citizens of the Russian Federation, political parties, other public associations may conductelection 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 anelection campaign and are aimed to encourage or are encouraging voters to vote for or againsta 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 publicassociations 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 guaranteedto registered candidates, to political parties and electoral blocs which registered their federal

lists of candidates.

Article 9. Funding of the Election of Deputies of the State Duma

1. Expenses on the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma shallbe paid out of the funds allocated from the federal budget.

2. Candidates, political parties, electoral blocs shall form their own electoral funds to financetheir election campaign.

Article 10. Public Preparation and C onduct of the Election of Deputie s of the State Duma

1. The election of deputies of the State Duma shall be prepared and conducted openly andpublicly.

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 instate and municipal print media. Other decisions of these bodies directly relating to thepreparation and conduct of the election shall be published or shall be made public in some other manner.

Article 11. Inadmissibility of Participation in Election C ampaigns of Foreign Nationals, Stateless Persons and Foreign Legal Entities

Foreign nationals, stateless persons, foreign legal entities shall not engage in any activitieswhich help or impede the nomination and registration of candidates (list of candidates), electionof registered candidates.

C hapter II. Electoral Districts and Electoral Precincts

Article 12. Formation of Single -Seat Electoral Districts


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1. In order to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma in single-seat electoral districts225 single-seat electoral districts shall be formed on the territory of the Russian Federation onthe basis of the information submitted to the Central Election Commission of the RussianFederation by the executive bodies of state power of the Russian Federation subjects about thenumber of voters registered in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of the FederalLaw O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation 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-seatelectoral districts formed on the territory of the Russian Federation. The information about thenumber of voters registered outside the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance withthe requirements of Article 16 of the Federal Law O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum shall besubmitted 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 electoraldistrict in which voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation are to be includedmust be less than the uniform quota of voters' representation. The number of voters thusincluded in a single-seat electoral district shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of votersregistered 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 votersregistered 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 subjectthat came into force before the day of the official publication of the decision to call theelection;

(2) formation of a single-seat electoral district consisting of non-adjacent territorieswithin the territory of one Russian Federation subject shall not be allowed, with theexception 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 RussianFederation subjects shall not be allowed;

(4) at least one single-seat electoral district shall be formed on the territory of eachRussian Federation subject;

(5) single-seat electoral districts shall be distributed between the Russian Federationsubjects so as to ensure that voters residing in different Russian Federation subjectsshould, 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 thisarticle 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 theRussian Federation shall prepare a scheme of the formation of single-seat electoral districts andits graphical representation and not later than 190 days before the expiry of the constitutionalterm for which the State Duma of the current convocation was elected shall submit this schemeand its graphical representation to the State Duma for its consideration in the establishedprocedure. The scheme of the single-seat electoral districts must indicate:


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(1) the name and number of each single-seat electoral district;

(2) the list of the administrative-territorial units, or municipalities, or populated centers atthe level of cities, raions, city districts or other populated centers of the correspondinglevel, comprised in each single-seat electoral district. If the single-seat electoral districtincludes a part of the territory of an administrative-territorial unit, a municipality or apopulated center, the scheme must indicate the boundaries of this part of the

administrative-territorial unit, municipality or populated center. If one single-seatelectoral district was formed on the territory of a Russian Federation subject, the list of administrative-territorial units, or municipalities, or populated centers comprised in thissingle-seat electoral district shall not be included in the scheme of single-seat electoraldistricts;

(3) the location of each district election commission or the election commission of aRussian 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 morethan one single-seat electoral district was formed on the territory of a RussianFederation 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 withClause 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 thestate automated information system.

7. The scheme of single-seat electoral districts shall be approved by a federal law which shallbe published (made public) not later than 120 days before the expiry of the constitutional termfor 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-seatelectoral 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 Commissionof 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 usingthe scheme of single-seat electoral districts which was used at the elections to the StateDuma of the previous convocation (hereafter previous scheme of the districts), if thisscheme meets the requirements of Clause 3 of this article. In this case the CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation shall publish (make public) the previousscheme of the districts not later than 10 days after the expiry of the period indicated inClause 7 of this article or, in the event of an early election, not later than 75 days beforevoting day;

(2) to conduct the election of deputies of the State Duma in single-seat electoral districtswhose scheme is to be determined, approved and publ ished (made public) by theCentral Election Commission of the Russian Federation not later than 10 days after theexpiry of the period indicated in Clause 7 of this article or, in the event of an earlyelection, not later than 75 days before voting day, if the previous scheme of the districtsfails to meet the requirements of Clause 3 of this article. When determining the saidscheme the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall ascertain thenumber of voters and make alterations in the previous scheme of the districts, with suchalterations to be made only in the districts which fail to meet the requirements of Clause3 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


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Russian Federation may change the boundaries of such districts in accordance with therequirements of Clause 3 of this article.

Article 13. Federal Electoral District

The federal electoral district wherein deputies of the State Duma are elected in proportion to thenumber of votes cast for federal lists of candidates nominated by political parties, electoral blocsshall comprise the entire territory of the Russian Federation. Voters included in single-seatelectoral districts in accordance with Clause 2, Article 12 of this Federal Law shall be regardedas having been included in the federal electoral district as well.

Article 14. Formation of Electoral Precincts

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 informationabout the number of voters registered in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of theFederal Law O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation 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 therepresentative body of local self-government) with the concurrence of a relevant territorialelection commission, or by the persons indicated in Clauses 5 and 6 of this article. In the casesprovided by Clause 4 of this article electoral precincts shall be formed by a territorial electioncommission. Electoral precincts shall be formed not later than 50 days before voting day withdue 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 notexceed 3,000;

the boundaries of electoral districts shall not be crossed by the boundaries of electoralprecincts.

4. In places where voters stay temporarily (hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places wheresuspects 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 precinctsmay be formed within the period established by Clause 2 of this article, and, in exceptionalcases, not later than five days before voting day, subject to the approval of a district electioncommission. Such electoral precincts shall be included in single-seat electoral districts wherethe electoral precincts are located or where the ship is registered. In hard-to-reach or remoteareas, on ships at sea on voting day and at polar stations electoral precincts may be formed bythe 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 populatedcenters. In such cases electoral precincts shall be formed by commanders of military unitssubject to a decision of a relevant district election commission within the period indicated inClause 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 shallform electoral precincts in the country where they operate not later than 50 days before votingday. In this case, the requirements to the number of registered voters set forth in Clause 3 of this article may be waived.


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7. The lists of electoral precincts indicating their number and boundaries (if an electoral precinctincludes a part of the territory of a populated center) or the populated centers (if an electoralprecinct 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 electioncommissions shall be published by the head of a municipality (or, if the charter of themunicipality does not provide for such office, by an official authorized to do so by therepresentative 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 articleshall be published within three days upon their formation by the head of a municipality (or, if thecharter of the municipality does not provide for such office, by an official authorized to do so bythe representative body of local self-government)

8. In the case of electoral precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation thematters connected with the publication of the information about electoral precincts specified inClause 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.

C hapter III. Voters Lists

Article 15. Preparation of Voters Lists

1. Voters lists shall be prepared by relevant election commissions separately for each electoralprecinct in accordance with the form established by the Central Election Commission of theRussian Federation.

2. A territorial election commission shall prepare voters lists not later than 26 days before votingday on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of a municipality (if the charter of themunicipality does not provide for such office - by a person authorized to do so by therepresentative body of local self-government), the commander of a military unit, the head of aninstitution where voters are temporarily staying.

3. The voters list for an electoral precinct formed in a hard-to-reach or remote area shall beprepared by a precinct election commission not later than 25 days before voting day and, inexceptional 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 themunicipality does not provide for this office - by a person authorized to do so by therepresentative body of local self-government).

4. In an electoral precinct formed on the territory of a military unit the list of voters - servicemenserving in the military unit, members of their families and other voters, if they reside within theterritory of the military unit, shall be prepared by a precinct election commission not later than25 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 incustody and other places of temporary stay), on a ship at sea on voting day or at a polar stationshall be prepared by a relevant precinct election commission not later than the day precedingvoting day on the basis of the voter data furnished by the head of the institution where votersare 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 Federationshall 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


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Federation or stay abroad on long business trips, in accordance with Clause 4, Article 16 of thisFederal 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 electioncommissions 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 listshall 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 andnumber 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) tothe voter and for entering the summary data for the election of deputies of the State Duma bothin 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 amachine-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 atransfer certificate not later than 25 days before voting day. The second, machine-readablecopy of the voters list shall be kept by a territorial election commission and shall be used asprescribed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The voters list shallbe signed by the chairman and the secretary of a territorial election commission and certified bythe commission's seal.

11. The voters list for the electoral precincts formed in accordance with Clauses 4 to 6, Article14 of this Federal Law shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of a precinct electioncommission and certified by the commission's seal.

12. A precinct election commission may divide the first copy of the voters list into separatebooks preserving the consecutive numeration of the voters list. Not later than the day precedingvoting day each such book shall be stitched and certified by the seal of the given precinctcommission and the signature of its chairman.

13. Having received the voters list a precinct election commission shall check and update thelist on the basis of personal applications from citizens made in accordance with Article 17 of thisFederal 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 electioncommission about inclusion of voters in the voters list in some other electoral precinct. Thechecked 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 andcertified 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 completenessof the data and its timely submission.

Article 16. Procedure for Inclusion of C itizens In, and Their Removal From,the Voters List


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1. All citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to an active electoral right inaccordance with Article 4 of this Federal Law shall be included in voters lists, save as otherwiseprovided 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 thefact that his place of residence is located on the territory of this electoral precinct as establishedby 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 regulatingthe procedure for the exercise by the citizens of the Russian Federation of the right to thefreedom 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 listsat 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 beincluded in the voters list on the basis of the fact that their place of residence is located withinthe 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 theRussian Federation or stay abroad on long business trips shall be included in voters lists on thebasis 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 thepremises of this precinct election commission on voting day.

5. Voters - full-time students with their registered place of residence being in a hostel (where theeducational establishment is located) shall be included in the voters lists at the place where thehostel (educational establishment) is located.

6. Voters staying on voting day in hospitals, sanatoriums, holiday hotels, places where suspectsand defendants are held in custody and other places of temporary stay shall be included in thevoters list on the basis of a passport, an equivalent identity document and an absenteecertificate for voting at the election of deputies of the State Duma (hereafter absenteecertificate). Voters at the place of temporary stay, who work at enterprises with a continuousoperating 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 thedecision of a precinct election commission on the basis of a personal written application to besubmitted to a territorial or precinct election commission not later than seven days before votingday.

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 tothe territorial agencies of this body for the status of forced migrants shall be included in thevoters list at the place of their temporary residence on the basis of a passport or an equivalentidentity 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 beincluded 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 identitydocument and an absentee certificate. Such citizens, who were unable to receive an absenteecertificate, 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 electioncommission to vote on voting day.

9. Voters who settled down on the territory of an electoral precinct after the voters list had beenmade available to voters for inspection, as well as voters who were not included in the voters listfor any other reason shall be additionally put on the voters list by a precinct election commission


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on the basis of a passport or an equivalent identity document and, if necessary, the documentsconfirming that the voter's place of residence is located on the territory of the given electoralprecinct.

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 territorialelection commission a citizen may be removed from the voters list only on the basis of officialdocuments or when an absentee certificate is issued to the voter in a procedure set forth in thisFederal Law. In this case, the date when the citizen was removed from the voters list and thereasons therefor shall be indicated in the voters list. This note shall be certified by the signatureof 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.

Article 17. Inspection of Voters Lists by Voters

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 precinctelection commission that he has not been put on the voters list and inform the commissionabout any error or inaccuracy in his data entered in the voters list. Within 24 hours and, onvoting day, within two hours after such statement is made and not later than the time whenvoting ends, a precinct election commission shall check the statement and the submitteddocuments 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 thevoters list may be appealed in the higher election commission or in a court (at the place wherethe 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 beforeor on voting day. In the event of a decision in favor of the applicant, a precinct electioncommission shall immediately make the necessary correction in the voters list.

4. Each Russian Federation citizen may inform a precinct election commission of changes in thevoter data entered in the voters list of the given electoral precinct in accordance with Clause 8,

Article 15 of this Federal Law.

C hapter IV. Election C ommissions

Article 18. The System and the Status of Election C ommissions for the

Election of Deputies of the State Duma

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;


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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 O nBasic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation toParticipate 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 RussianFederation shall be superior to all election commissions.

4. An election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall be the higher electioncommission in respect of the district, territorial and precinct election commissions acting on theterritory of the given Russian Federation subject, a precinct election commissions formed inelectoral precincts outside the territory of the Russian Federation and territorial electioncommissions formed in accordance with Clause 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directingthe 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-seatelectoral district, the precinct election commissions formed in the electoral precincts outside theterritory of the Russian Federation and territorial election commissions formed in accordancewith Clause 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directing the activity of the said precinct electioncommissions.

6. A territorial election commission shall be the higher election commission in respect of anyprecinct election commission acting in the given territory. A territorial election commissionformed in accordance with Clause 2 or 3, Article 21 of this Federal Law for directing the activityof 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 inrespect 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 complaintswhich they receive in the course of the election campaign concerning violations of this FederalLaw, other federal laws as regards preparation and conduct of the election, check thesecomplaints and give written answers to the complainants within five days, but not later than theday 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 takenwithin 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 authorizedrepresentatives shall be immediately notified of receipt of such complaint. The candidate or hisauthorized representative, authorized representatives of the political party, electoral bloc mayprovide 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 themass media or by other means.

9. Election commissions may apply to law enforcement authorities, in particular in connectionwith the complaints mentioned in Clause 8 of this article, for conducting the necessaryinvestigation and stopping violations of this Federal Law, other federal laws as regards thepreparation and conduct of the election. The law enforcement authorities shall take measuresprescribed by law to stop such violations and shall inform the election commission, which madethe application, of the results within five days or immediately, if such application was made fiveor less than five days before voting day but not later than the day preceding voting day, on


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voting day and on the day which follows voting day. If the facts cited in the application requireadditional verification, such measures shall be taken within ten days.

10. Election commissions shall inform voters about the time and procedure for the performanceof electoral actions and the progress of the election campaign, about the political parties andelectoral blocs which nominated lists of candidates.

11. A decision of an election commission which conflicts with federal laws or which has beentaken in excess of the commission's competence shall be revoked by the higher electioncommission or a court. In this case, the higher election commission shall be entitled to take adecision on the substance of the matter or return the documents in question for re-considerationto the election commission whose decision was revoked.

12. State bodies, state institutions and organizations and their officials shall assist electioncommissions in the exercise of their powers. In particular, they shall, free of charge, provide thenecessary premises, including premises for safekeeping of electoral documentation before it ishanded over to archives or destroyed upon the expiry of the safekeeping periods established byRussian Federation laws, make arrangements for guarding the sai d premises anddocumentation and supply transport and communication facilities, technical equipment.

13. Organizations with a charter capital in which the state and/or municipality holds a stakeexceeding 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 theexercise of their powers and, in particular, they shall provide transport and communicationsfacilities, technical equipment, premises, including premises for safekeeping of electoraldocumentation before it is handed over to archives or destroyed upon the expiry of thesafekeeping periods established by Russian Federation laws, make arrangements for guardingthe said premises and documentation.

14. The state and municipal organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting as well aseditorial offices of state and municipal print media shall provide election commissions with f reeair time for information of voters in the procedure, established by this Federal Law, other federallaws, and with free space in print media for the publication of decisions and acts or electioncommissions, other information. In this case the expenditures of these organizations engaged inTV and/or radio broadcasting and of these editorial offices of the print media shall be covered inthe procedure established by the Federal Law O n 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 formsof ownership, including organizations engaged in TV and/or radio broadcasting (hereafter TVand radio broadcasting organizations), editorial offices of print media and the officials of thesebodies and organizations shall provide election commissions with the necessary informationand 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 andmaterials shall be provided to election commissions free of charge.

Article 19. Formation of the C entral Election C ommission of the RussianFederation and Election C ommissions of the Russian Federation Subjects

The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of theRussian Federation subjects shall be formed in accordance with the Federal Law O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation toParticipate in a Referendum.

Article 20. Formation of District Election C ommissions

1. A district election commission shall be formed in each single-seat electoral district.


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formation of precinct election commissions established by the Federal Law O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation toParticipate 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 theelection 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 themaximum 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 remunerationfor these members of the election commission and compensation for a period during which theywere 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. Thedecision 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 amilitary 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 periodestablished by Clause 1 of this article and, in exceptional cases, not later than three days beforevoting day.

5. In an electoral precinct formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation a precinctelection commission shall be formed within the period established by Clause 1 of this article bythe head of a relevant diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation or by thecommander of a military unit stationed outside the territory of the Russian Federation.

Article 23. Appointment of Non-Voting Members of Election C ommission

1. A political party, an electoral bloc which have nominated a federal list of candidatesregistered 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 CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation, all election commissions of the RussianFederation 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 tothe given district election commission as well as to all territorial and precinct electioncommissions 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 whichhave nominated a registered candidate (registered candidates) in a single-seat electoral districtalso may appoint one non-voting member to the Central Election Commission of the RussianFederation, the election commission of a Russian Federation subject.

4. Persons occupying elective offices, holding command posts in military units, militaryorganizations and institutions, judges, prosecutors shall not be appointed as non-votingmembers of election commissions


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Article 24. Organization of the Work of Election C ommissions

1. The work of election commissions shall be organized in accordance with Article 28 of theFederal Law O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation to Participate in a Referendum.

2. During the period of the election campaign national state TV and radio broadcastingorganizations shall, free of charge, allocate not less than 15 minutes of air time to the CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation. Regional state TV and radio broadcastingorganizations shall allocate not less than 10 minutes of free air time to the election commissionsof Russian Federation subjects and not less than 5 minutes of free air time to district electioncommissions weekly, on each of their channels, for clarifying electoral laws, informing votersabout 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 respondingto questions of voters. In addition to this, national state TV and radio broadcasting organizationsshall allocate not less than 10 minutes of f ree air time for these purposes to the Central ElectionCommission of the Russian Federation weekly, on each of their channels, in the period whichbegins 90 days before the expiry of the period in which the election of deputies of the StateDuma must be called and ends on the day of the official publication of the decision to call theelection.

3. During the period of the election campaign the editorial offices of national state print mediacoming 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 periodof the election campaign the editorial offices of regional state print media coming out at leastonce a week shall, free of charge, allocate not less than 1/100th of their weekly space toelection 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 theelection campaign and for responding to questions of voters.

Article 25. Status of Members of Election C ommissions

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 O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in aReferendum and Article 23 of this Federal Law.

Article 26. Powers of the C entral Election C ommission of the RussianFederation

During the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma the CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation, acting within the scope of its powersestablished by federal laws, shall:

(1) direct the activities of election commissions;

(2) exercise control over the observance of electoral rights of citizens of the RussianFederation during the preparation and conduct of the election and ensure uniformapplication of this Federal Law;

(3) prepare a scheme of single-seat electoral districts and submit it to the State Dumafor 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 electoraldistricts;


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(4) when determining the scheme of single-seat electoral districts deal with the questionof inclusion of voters residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation in relevantsingle-seat electoral districts;

(5) issue instructions and other regulations on the questions connected with theapplication of this Federal Law;

(6) render legal, methodological, organizational and technical assistance to electioncommissions;

(7) direct the activity of election commissions to ensure the uniform use of the stateautomated information system and separate technical facilities of this system, includingtechnical facilities for vote counting;

(8) register electoral blocs;

(9) certify federal lists of candidates and lists of candidates nominated in single-seatelectoral 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 federalelectoral 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, electoralblocs;

(15) hear the information of the federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executivepower of Russian Federation subjects and bodies of local self-government on thematters 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 makearrangements for their production;

(18) determine the form of the absentee certificate and make arrangements for printingof absentee certificates and delivery thereof to election commissions of RussianFederation 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 toarchives and their disposal upon the expiry of their safekeeping periods and agree thisprocedure with the Federal Archive Service of the Russian Federation;


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(22) distribute the funds allocated from the federal budget for funding the preparationand conduct of the election of deputies of the State Duma, the activities of electioncommissions and exercise of their powers, operation and development of theautomation facilities, training of election officials and education of voters; exercisecontrol over the proper use of the said funds as well as the money contributed to theelectoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;

(23) take measures to ensure a uniform procedure for distribution of air time and spacein 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 andexercise 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 electoralactions, the progress of the election campaign, the political parties, electoral blocs;

(27) consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of theelection commissions of Russian Federation subjects and their officials, about decisionsof district election commissions to register (or not to register) candidates, and adoptreasoned decisions thereon;

(28) determine which of the registered candidates on the federal lists of candidatesnominated by political, parties, electoral blocs have been elected deputies of the StateDuma 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 thewhole 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 FederalLaw O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation to Participate in a Referendum.

Article 27. Powers of the Election C ommission of a Russian FederationSubject

1. The election commission of a Russian Federation subject shall:

(1) coordinate the activities of election commissions on the territory of the RussianFederation subject;

(2) ensure interaction between the Central Election Commission of the RussianFederation and the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation subject;

(3) exercise control over observance of electoral rights of citizens of the RussianFederation on the territory of the Russian Federation subject;


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(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 subjectfor all candidates, registered candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;

(5) take measures to distribute air time and space in print media between registeredcandidates, regional groups of candidates;

(6) exercise control over compliance with the maximum limit of all expenditures from theelectoral 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 differentelections in accordance with this Federal Law and the laws of the Russian Federationsubject

(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 theCentral 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 andmake arrangements for the delivery thereof to district and territorial electioncommissions;

(10) make arrangements for the delivery of absentee certificates, other electoraldocuments to the lower election commissions;

(11) distribute funds allocated to it for funding the preparation and conduct of theelection in the Russian Federation subject, in particular, distribute a part of these fundsbetween district and territorial election commissions and exercise control over theproper use of these funds and over contribution of money to and its expenditure fromthe electoral funds of candidates, political parties, electoral blocs on the territory of theRussian Federation subject;

(12) establish unified numeration of electoral precincts on the territory of the RussianFederation subject;

(13) ensure compliance with the standard quotas of the technological equipmentapproved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation andcompliance with the procedure for safekeeping of electoral documents, their transfer toarchives 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 RussianFederation subject;

(15) hear the information of the bodies of executive power of the Russian Federationsubject and bodies of local self-government on the matters relating to the preparationand 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 subjectand, if the election commission of the Russian Federation subject has been vested withthe powers of a district election commission, consider complaints (applications) aboutdecisions and actions (omissions) of territorial election commissions and their officials inthe given Russian Federation subject, adopt reasoned decisions thereon;


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(17) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of electoralactions, the progress of the election campaign, the candidates, political parties,electoral blocs;

(18) exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law and the FederalLaw O n Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the RussianFederation to Participate in a Referendum.

.

Article 28. Powers of the District Election commission

1. The district election commission shall:

(1) exercise control over compliance with this Federal Law on the territory of theelectoral district;

(2) coordinate the activities of territorial and precinct election commissions, consider complaints (applications) about decisions and actions (omissions) of territorial electioncommissions and their officials and adopt reasoned decisions thereon;

(3) advise the participants in the electoral process about the information to be submittedby candidates nominated in the given single-seat electoral districts, publish informationabout registered candidates;

(4) register candidates in the given single-seat electoral district and their agents, issuecertificates of a standard form to candidates and their agents, register authorizedrepresentatives 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, politicalparties, electoral blocs;

(6) ensure that the state automated information system should be used on the territoryof the electoral district in accordance with the procedure established by the CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation;

(7) hear the information of the bodies of executive power of the Russian Federationsubject and bodies of local self-government on the matters relating to the preparationand conduct of the election;

(8) exercise control over compliance of participants in the electoral process with theprocedures and rules of election campaigning;

(9) exercise control over the proper use of funds allocated to it for the preparation andconduct of the election and over contribution of money to and its expenditure fromelectoral 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 electoraldistrict and the single-seat electoral district to territorial election commissions in thecases provided by this Federal Law;


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(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 electioncommissions and exercise control over their proper use;

(7) together with the district election commission ensure that the conditions of electionactivities established by this Federal Law, other federal laws should be observed on thegiven territory for all candidates, political parties, electoral blocs;

(8) exercise control over compliance of participants in the electoral process with theprocedures and rules of election campaigning;

(9) ensure that the state automated information system should be used on the giventerritory in accordance with the procedure established by the Central ElectionCommission of the Russian Federation;

(10) make arrangements for the delivery of ballots and other electoral documents toprecinct election commissions;

(11) issue absentee certificates to voters;

(12) render organizational and technical assistance to precinct election commissions inthe 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 membersof 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 theelection and their transfer to the higher election commission or to the archives inaccordance with the procedure approved by the Central Election Commission of theRussian Federation, dispose of electoral documents after the expiry of their safekeepingperiods;

(16) ensure compliance with the standard quotas of the technological equipmentapproved by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;

(17) inform voters about the time and procedure for the performance of elector alactions, 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 21of this Federal Law shall have powers indicated in Clause 1 of this article, save the powersindicated in Sub-clauses 2, 11 and 17, Clause 1 of this article.

Article 30. Powers of a Precinct Election C ommission

1. A precinct election commission shall:

(1) inform the population about the address and telephone number of the precinctelection 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 byClauses 3 to 6, Article 15 of this Federal Law, prepare and correct the voters list,


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arrange for voters to inspect the voters list, consider statements about errors andinaccuracies 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 theinformation received from the higher election commission;

(5) exercise control over compliance with the rules for election campaigning on theterritory 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 theprotocols of vote returns to a territorial election commission;

(9) within the scope of its competence consider complaints (applications) aboutviolations of this Federal Law and take reasoned decisions thereon;

(10) ensure safekeeping and transfer of the documents relating to the preparation andconduct of the election in accordance with the procedure approved by the CentralElection 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 officialpublication of the general election results if no complaints (applications) and protests have beenreceived by the higher election commission against decisions and actions (omissions) of thegiven election commission, which resulted in the violation of the voting and the vote-countingprocedure and also if these facts are not being investigated by a court. If the vote returns havebeen contested, the powers of a precinct election commission shall expire after a court or thehigher election commission hands down a final decision on the substance of the complaint(application) or the protest.

Article 31. Openness in the Activity of Election C ommissions

1. Members of the higher election commissions, a candidate registered by the given or anyhigher election commission or his agent or authorized representative for financial matters, theauthorized representative or agent of a political party, an electoral bloc which have registered afederal list of candidates or any candidate on the said list may attend all meetings of anyelection commission and be present when a relevant precinct, territorial election commission isworking with voters lists, ballots, absentee certificates, protocols of vote returns. Theaforementioned persons shall not need any additional permission to attend the meetings and bepresent when the election commission is working with the said electoral documents. Electioncommissions 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 electoraldocuments. 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, eachcandidate registered in the given single-seat electoral district or his agent or authorizedrepresentative for financial matters, the agent or authorized representative of each politicalparty, each electoral bloc which have registered federal lists of candidates about the time whenthe commission is to hold its meetings or work with the electoral documents listed in Clause 1 of this article.


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3. Representatives of the parties concerned may be present at the meetings of electioncommissions when the commission considers complaints (applications) and may giveexplanations 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 wasreceived 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 commissionbegins its work and until it is notified by the higher election commission about acceptance of theprotocols of vote returns and also when votes are recounted, the persons indicated in Clause 1of this article as well as observers, including foreign (international) observers, may be present atpolling 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, electionresults, working on the protocols of vote returns, election results and when votes are beingrecounted.

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 anyelectoral precinct formed on the territory of a military unit, in a closed administrative-territorialunit, at a hospital, sanatorium, holiday hotel, places where suspects and defendants are held incustody or in other places of a temporary stay as well as to the polling station of the givenelectoral precinct. .

8. Observers may be appointed by each candidate registered in the given single-seat electoraldistrict, 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, prosecutorsmay 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 thesurname, 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 electioncommission) to which the observer is sent. Provision of any additional information about theobserver 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 precinctelection commission in the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article and to a territorialcommission or other election commissions - during early voting or in the period from thecommencement 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 publicassociation shall not simultaneously act as observers on the premises of an electioncommission or at the polling station. No restrictions other than those imposed by this FederalLaw shall be established on the presence of observers on the premises of an electioncommission 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:


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(1) inspect voters lists;

(2) be present at the polling station of the given electoral precinct at any time during theperiod 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 pollingstation from a distance and in the conditions which allow the observer to see the marksmade on the ballots by voters; inspect any marked and unmarked ballot when votes arebeing counted; watch the election commission preparing the protocol of vote returnsand other documents during the period indicated in Clause 5 of this article;

(6) make proposals and remarks concerning the organization of voting to the chairmanof 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 thedocuments attached to these protocols; receive from the election commission certifiedcopies of the said protocols, of the documents attached thereto and of other documentsreceived 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 copiesof the said documents by himself and have these copies certified by the electioncommission.

(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 theelection 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 votereturns and election results of all election commissions, make or receive from the electioncommission copies of the said decisions and protocols and of documents attached thereto. At


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8. After the end of the voting time foreign (international) observers may express their opinionabout electoral laws and the preparation and conduct of the election, hold press conferencesand apply to the mass media.

9. Foreign (international) observers may meet with candidates and their agents and authorizedrepresentatives and with authorized representatives of political parties, electoral blocs.

10. Foreign (international) observers shall not take advantage of their status to carry onactivities unrelated to monitoring the course of the election campaign, the preparation andconduct of the election.

11. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may revoke accreditation of aforeign (international) observer if he violates federal laws or the universally accepted principlesand norms of international law.

C hapter V. Political Parties, Electoral Blocs

Article 33. Participation of Political Parties in the Election of Deputies of

the State Duma1. Political parties shall participate in the election of deputies of the State Duma and, amongother things, shall nominate lists of candidates in accordance with this Federal Law and theFederal Law O n Political Parties.

2. The list of political parties which are entitled to participate in the election of deputies of theState Duma under the Law O n Political Parties and this Federal Law and, among other things, to nominate lists of candidates shall be made up by the federal body authorized toregister political parties. At the request of the Central Election Commission of the RussianFederation this list made up as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call theelection shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation withinten days of the day when the request was received. The Central Election Commission of theRussian 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.

Article 34. Participation of Electoral Blocs in the Election of Deputies of the State Duma

1. An electoral bloc is a voluntary union formed by two or three political parties included in thelist of political parties, indicated in Article 33 of this Federal Law, for joint participation in theelection. 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 publicmovement whose charter provides for participation in elections. Such all-Russia publicassociations 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, inthe event of the early election of deputies of the State Duma, not later than six months beforevoting day. These time periods shall not apply to other modifications and amendments to thecharter 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 tradeunion, a religious or charity organization, a national-cultural autonomy;


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associations whose charters provide that membership therein is based only onthe profession, nationality, ethnic origin, race and confession of citizens;

associations whose non-political nature is specially stipulated in the federallaw.;

international public associations.

3. The list of all-Russia associations which have been established in the form of a publicorganization or public movement and meet the requirements of Clauses 1 and 2 of this articleshall be made up by the f ederal justice body. At the request of the Central Election Commissionof the Russian Federation this list made up as of the day of the official publication of thedecision to call the election shall be submitted to the Central Election Commission of theRussian Federation within ten days of the day when the request was received. The CentralElection Commission of the Russian Federation shall forward the list of all-Russia publicassociations 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 whichan electoral bloc is to be formed shall be adopted at the congress (conference) of each of thepolitical parties, each of the all-Russia public associations. After this the authorizedrepresentatives of these political parties, other all-Russia public associations shall sign a jointagreement on the formation an electoral bloc.

5. For registration of an electoral bloc its authorized representative shall submit the followingdocuments 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 inthe unified state register of legal entities;

(3) minutes of proceedings of the congresses (conferences) of the politicalparties, other all-Russia public associations, containing the decision to join theelectoral bloc;

(4) an agreement on the formation of an electoral bloc signed by the authorizedrepresentatives of the political parties, other all-Russia public associations andcertified by the seals of these political parties, all-R

Documents

Federal Law Rusia