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Chapter V - Election Commissions
Article 20 - System of Election Commissions
Article 21 - Formation of the Election Commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]
Article 22 - Formation of District Election Commissions
Article 23 - Formation of Precinct Election Commissions
Article 24 - Terms of Powers of Election Commissions and Commission Members
Article 25 - Status of an Election Commission Member
Article 26 - Dismissal of an Election Commission
Article 27 - Powers of the Election Commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]
Article 28 - Powers of a District Election Commission
Article 29 - Powers of a Precinct Election Commission
Article 30 - Openness of Activities of Election Commissions
Article 31 - Organization of the Activity of Election Commissions
Article 32 - Assistance to Be Rendered to Election Commissions in Their Activity
Article 20 - System of Election Commissions
The following election commissions shall be responsible for the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]:
· election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation];
· district election commissions;
· precinct election commissions.
Decisions of an election commission contradicting federal laws or laws of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] or taken in excess of their established powers shall be repealed by a higher election commission or a court of law. In this case the higher election commission shall be entitled to take a decision on the substance of the matter.
Article 21 - Formation of the Election Commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]
The election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall consist of _____ voting members.
The election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall be formed by the legislative (representative) body and the executive body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] on the basis of proposals of electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, elective bodies of local self-government, the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] of the previous convocation. One half of the members of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall be appointed by the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the other half by the executive body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]. Both the legislative (representative) body of state power and the executive body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall appoint at least one-third of the number of election commission members to be appointed by them on the basis of proposals submitted by each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and on the basis of proposals submitted by electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]. In this case, not more than one representative may be appointed to the election commission from each electoral association, electoral bloc. Government employees shall not account for more than one-third of the total number of members of the election commission appointed respectively by the legislative (representative) body of state power and the executive body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], respectively.
In the event of early termination of powers of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the right to propose members of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall be retained by the electoral associations, electoral blocs which had factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] of the last convocation.
Within 5 days upon appointment of members of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] the legislative (representative) body and the executive body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall publish in state-owned regional newspapers a report on the consideration of proposals of electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, elective bodies of local self-government, the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] of the previous convocation in the appointment of commission members.
The election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall hold its first meeting not later than on the fifteenth day after adoption of the decision regarding the appointment of its voting members. By this time not less than two-thirds of voting members of the commission shall have been appointed. From the day of the first meeting of the election commission of the new convocation powers of the election commission of the previous convocation shall be terminated.
At the first meeting of the election commission, the members of the commission shall elect by secret ballot the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary of the commission from among its voting members. As a rule, these persons must be graduates of law schools or hold a degree in law.
An electoral association or electoral bloc shall be entitled to appoint one non-voting member to the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] if candidates nominated by this electoral association or electoral bloc have been registered in not less than one-third of single-mandate districts.
Article 22 - Formation of District Election Commissions
A district election commission shall be formed in each single-mandate electoral district not later than 55 days prior to voting day.
District election commissions shall consist of [8-14] voting members.
District election commissions shall be formed by the elective body of local self-government on the basis of proposals made by electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, meetings of voters at the place of their residence, work, service, study, district election commissions of the previous convocation. The elective body of local self-government shall appoint at least one-third of members of a district election commission on the basis of proposals received from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs, which have factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and on the basis of proposals received from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and the representative body of local self-government. In this case, not more than one representative from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs may be appointed to the election commission.
In the event of early termination of powers of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the representative body of local self-government, the right to propose members of a district election commission shall be retained by the electoral associations, electoral blocs which had factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the representative body of local self-government of the last convocation.
If the territory of an electoral district includes more than one municipal units, a district election commission shall be formed by the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] on the basis of proposals made by electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, meetings of voters at the place of their residence, work, service, study, district election commissions of the previous convocation. In this case, the legislative (representative) body of state power shall appoint at least one- third of members of a district election commission on the basis of proposals received from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and on the basis of proposals received from the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and the representative bodies of local self-government of the appropriate municipal units. In this case, not more than one representative from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs may be appointed to the election commission.
Government employees and persons holding municipal service offices in bodies of local self-government shall not account for more than one-third of the total number of voting members of a district election commission.
If the representative bodies of local self-government or the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] fail to appoint members of district election commissions within the period established in Part 1 of this article, district election commissions shall be formed by the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] on the basis of the requirements set forth in Parts 2 - 4 and 6 of this article not later than 50 days prior to voting day.
Within five days after the appointment of district election commission members, the body which appointed the members shall publish a report in regional state-owned newspapers regarding the consideration of proposals of electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, meetings of voters at places of their residence, work, service, study and the district election commissions of the previous convocation in the appointment of commission members.
At the first meeting of the commission its members shall elect by secret ballot the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary of the commission from among the voting members of the commission.
Upon registration of a candidate in a single-mandate electoral district, the candidate shall be entitled to appoint one non-voting member to the district election commission in the single-mandate electoral district where that candidate has been registered.
Article 23 - Formation of Precinct Election Commissions
A precinct election commission shall be formed in each electoral precinct not later than three days after formation of the electoral precinct, on the basis of proposals made by electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, meetings of voters at the place of their residence, work, service, study.
Precinct election commissions shall consist of 6 - 15 voting members and shall be formed by the representative body of local self-government. The representative body of local self-government shall appoint at least one-third of members of a precinct election commission on the basis of proposals received from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and proposals received from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs which have factions in the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and the representative body of local self-government. In this case, not more than one representative from each of the electoral associations, electoral blocs may be appointed to the election commission. Government employees and persons holding municipal service offices in bodies of local self-government shall not account for more than one-third of the total number of voting members of a precinct election commission.
If the representative body of local self-government fails to appoint members of a precinct election commission within the period established in Part 1 of this article or if there is no representative body of local self-government in the given territory, a precinct election commission shall be formed by the appropriate district election commission on the basis of the requirements set forth in Parts 1 and 2 of this article.
At the first meeting of the precinct election commission its members shall elect by secret ballot the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary of the commission from among the voting member of the commission.
Upon registration of a candidate in a single-mandate electoral district, the candidate shall be entitled to appoint one non-voting member to each precinct election commission in the single-mandate electoral district where that candidate has been registered.
Article 24 - Terms of Powers of Election Commissions and Commission Members
The election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall be a legal entity acting on a permanent basis. The term of powers of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall be five years.
A district election commission shall act until a new district election commission is formed. After election day, during ten days after publication of the voting results received from precinct election commissions in compliance with this Law, a district election commission shall establish the time - not less than three hours daily during regular working hours - when the commission will be open to public.
The term of powers of a precinct election commission shall expire 10 days after official publication of election results in the given electoral district if no complains and grievances were received by a district election commission regarding actions (inaction) of the given commission, which resulted in the violation of the voting and vote counting procedures, and if no legal proceedings are being conducted in respect of these facts. If the voting results have been appealed or protested against, the powers of the precinct election commission shall terminate after a final decision has been taken on the substance of the complaint, protest by the district election commission or a court of law.
The term of powers of voting members of election commissions shall expire simultaneously with the expiration of the term of powers of these election commissions.
Voting members of election commissions may be removed from office before expiration of their term by a decision of the body that nominated them if:
· a member of the election commission has submitted a written resignation;
· a member of the election commission has lost citizenship of the Russian Federation;
· a guilty court verdict delivered in respect of a member of the election commission has come into legal force;
· a member of the election commission has been pronounced incapable, partially incapable, missing or dead by a court decision that has come into legal force;
· a member of the election commission has died;
· based on the statement of the election commission a court of law has found a member of an election commission to be systematically defaulting in the performance of his/her duties;
· there have appeared the grounds set forth in Part 1 Article 25 of this Law.
Powers of voting members of an election commission shall be also terminated before expiration of their term in case of dissolution of the election commission under this Law.
The body that appointed the outgoing member of an election commission shall appoint a new member to replace the member who was removed for the above reasons within a month of the date of his/her removal in compliance with the requirements of this Law.
Powers of non-voting members of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and of district election commissions who were appointed by an electoral association, electoral bloc which nominated a candidate who was elected or by a candidate who received a deputy’s mandate shall last until the end of the period for the registration of candidates in the elections to the legislative (representative) body of state power the [Subject of the Russian Federation] of the next convocation. Powers of non-voting members of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and of district election commissions, who were appointed by an electoral association, electoral bloc which nominated a candidate who was not elected or by a candidate who did not receive a deputy’s mandate shall terminate 30 days after publication of the general election results by the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]. The term of powers of non-voting members of precinct election commissions shall expire with the termination of powers of such election commissions.
Powers of a non-voting member of an election commission may be terminated and transferred to another person by a decision of the person or the body that appointed the member.
Article 25 - Status of an Election Commission Member
Deputies of legislative (representative) bodies of state power, representative bodies of local self-government, elected officials of the bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government, judges, candidates, their agents, authorized representatives and agents of voter groups and electoral associations, electoral blocs which nominated candidates, non-voting members of election commissions, spouses and close relatives of candidates or persons directly subordinated to candidates shall not be eligible for appointment as voting members of election commissions.
In compliance with the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum» in this Law immediate subordination shall mean the official relations between a superior and a subordinate in which the former has administrative powers over the latter i.e., may hire and fire the subordinate, or, in accordance with his/her official authority, issue orders, instructions and directions mandatory for the subordinate, award bonuses to and penalize the subordinate.
An election commission member shall not simultaneously be a member of an election commission of a higher or lower level.
A voting member of an election commission relieved of his/her duties at the main place of employment for the period of the preparation and conduct of elections shall receive an average salary at the main place of employment. A voting member of an election commission relieved from his/her duties at the main place of employment for the period of preparation and conduct of elections may be paid additional remuneration from the funds allocated for the conduct of elections in the amount and the manner established by the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation].
During the period of elections voting members of an election commission shall not be subject to legal prosecution or court-imposed administrative punishments without the sanction of the Procurator of the Subject of the Russian Federation.
During the period of elections a voting member of an election commission shall not be fired from his/her place of employment or transferred to another job by the administration (employer) without the member's consent.
Non-voting members of an election commission shall have the same rights as voting members with regard to the issues relating to the preparation and conduct of the elections save the right to hand out ballots, participate in sorting out and counting the ballots, draw up a protocol of voting results, election results, participate in the voting on matters which are within the competence of the given election commission, sign decisions of the election commission.
Voting and non-voting members of an election commission shall be entitled to:
· receive timely notices of meetings of the election commission;
· 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;
· 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;
· inspect any documents and materials (including voter lists, ballots), specifically, documents and materials of the given and the lower election commission recorded on machine-readable media and receive copies of these documents and materials (with the exception of voter lists, ballots), request that these copies be certified;
· appeal actions (inaction) of the election commission in the appropriate higher commission and in a court of law.
Article 26 - Dismissal of an Election Commission
If the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], a district election commission, a precinct election commission commits violations of electoral rights of citizens as a result of which the voting results in the given territory or the election results have been pronounced null and void as provided by this Law in compliance 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 election commission may be dismissed by a court of law of the appropriate jurisdiction specified by the Federal Law «On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum».
A group of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] consisting of at least one-third of the whole number of deputies of the said body as well as the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may file an application with a court of law requesting dismissal of the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation].
A group of deputies consisting of at least one-third of the whole number of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] or a group of deputies of the appropriate representative body of local self-government consisting of at least one-third of the whole number of deputies of this body as well as the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation may file an application with a court of law requesting dismissal of a district election commission, a precinct election commission.
An application for dismissal of an election commission shall be accepted for consideration immediately and a decision thereon shall be passed within 14 days. The court shall examine the application for dismissal of an election commission at a full session.
Bodies of state power or a body of local self-government empowered to form an election commission shall form a new election commission not later than 14 days after the court decision dismissing the election commission has come into legal force.
Dismissal of an election commission shall not result in termination of powers of non-voting members of the given election commission.
Article 27 - Powers of the Election Commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation]
Within its powers as established by federal laws, this Law and other laws of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], during the preparation and conduct of elections the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] shall:
· monitor observance of the electoral rights of citizens and the laws on elections of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation];
· in accordance with this Law issue instructions for the distribution of funds allocated from the budget for the preparation and conduct of elections; submission of financial reports by election commissions and candidates; opening and maintenance of temporary accounts of candidates; bookkeeping and reporting in respect of the resources of electoral funds; allocation of space in print media; issuance of credentials to observers, agents of candidates;
· guide the activities of lower-level election commissions to ensure full and uniform application of this Law and assist the election commissions in the performance of their functions;
· issue clarifications concerning application of this Law, which shall be binding upon all election commissions of a lower level;
· manage funds allocated from the budget of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] for the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies;
· allocate funds to district election commissions and supervise the spending of these funds;
· hear reports of bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government on matters concerning the -preparation and conduct of elections;
· facilitate provision of premises, transport, and communication means to election commissions and deal with other problems of logistical support of elections
· establish a uniform numbering system for electoral districts in the territory of the [Subject of the Russian Federation];
· register electoral blocs;
· establish the format of ballots, protocols of voting results and election results and other electoral documents;
· approve samples of seals of election commissions and the procedure for the delivery and safekeeping of electoral documents;
· ensure equal conditions of election propaganda for all registered candidates, electoral associations and electoral blocs;
· officially publish general election results in the [Subject of the Russian Federation;
· publish an official report containing the voting results by electoral districts and electoral precincts in the elections of deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation];
· register deputies elected in single-mandate electoral districts and submit the lists of registered deputies and other required documents to the legislative (representative) body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation];
· ensure transfer of documents relating to the preparation and conduct of elections to archives in compliance with this Law;
· organize repeat voting, repeat elections and by-elections to fill deputy vacancies;
· consider complaints (statements) about its decisions, actions and inaction, the decisions, actions and inaction of lower election commissions, and take motivated decisions thereon;
· exercise other powers in compliance with federal laws, this Law and other laws of the [Subject of the Russian Federation].
Article 28 - Powers of a District Election Commission
During the preparation and conduct of elections a district election commission shall:
· monitor observance of this Law and the electoral rights of citizens during elections of deputies in the territory of the electoral district;
· coordinate and supervise the activities of precinct election commissions to ensure full and uniform application of this Law;
· manage funds allocated for the preparation and conduct of elections in the given electoral district; allocate funds to precinct election commissions and supervise the spending of these funds;
· facilitate provision of premises, transport, and communication means to precinct election commissions and deal with other problems of logistical support of elections
· register candidates and their agents, and issue certificates of a standard form to them;
· approve the text of a ballot for the electoral district and arrange for the printing of ballots and their delivery to precinct election commissions;
· ensure equal conditions of election propaganda in the district for all candidates, electoral associations and electoral blocs;
· compile voter lists for all electoral precincts in the territory of the electoral district;
· organize early voting on the premises of the district election commission;
· sum up voting results received from precinct election commissions and determine election results in the electoral district;
· announce and publish the outcome of the elections in the electoral district;
· organize repeat voting, repeat elections and by-elections to fill deputy vacancies;
· consider complaints and statements about violations of this Law, including those concerning its own decisions, actions and inaction and take motivated decisions thereon;
· exercise other powers established by federal laws, this Law and other laws of the [Subject of the Russian Federation].
Article 29 - Powers of a Precinct Election Commission
During the preparation and conduct of elections a precinct election commission shall:
· inform the population about the address and telephone number of the precinct election commission, its working hours, and the day and place of voting;
· arrange for the inspection of the voter list by voters, consider complaints about mistakes and inaccuracies in the voter list and either make the necessary changes or refuse to satisfy the complaint indicating the reasons for the refusal;
· organize preparation of polling stations, ballot boxes and other equipment necessary for voting;
· monitor observance of the rules regulating the display of election propaganda materials in the territory of the electoral precinct;
· organize voting on election day and early voting;
· count votes and determine voting results for the electoral precinct;
· consider complaints (statements) about violations of this Law, including complaints about its own decisions, actions and inaction, and take motivated decisions thereon;
· exercise other powers established by federal laws, this Law and other laws of the [Subject of the Russian Federation].
Article 30 - Openness of Activities of Election Commissions
The activities of election commissions shall be open and public.
All meetings of an election commission may be attended by members of higher election commissions, a registered candidate or his/her agent, an authorized representative of the electoral association and electoral bloc which nominated a registered candidate. No additional permissions shall be needed by the aforementioned persons to attend the meetings. The election commission shall notify the said persons of its meetings and allow them freely to attend these meetings. The meetings may also be attended by media representatives.
Decisions of election commissions shall be published in the mass media specified in Part 1 Article 49 of this Law, with the publication to be paid for from the funds allocated to these mass media from the budget, and shall be given to other mass media not later than 24 hours after their adoption.
On voting day, from the time the precinct election commission begins its work and until receipt of a message that the district election commission has adopted a protocol of voting results and also when votes are recounted, the persons indicated in Part 2 of this article as well as observers, media representatives, foreign (international) observers may be present at the polling station of the electoral precinct.
Access to the premises of a precinct election commission of an electoral precinct formed in a military unit, closed administrative-territorial unit, hospital, sanatorium, holiday hotel, temporary confinement wards and to the voting premises in the given electoral precinct shall be provided to all members of the election commission, observers, other persons indicated in Part 2 of this article.
Observers, media representatives, foreign (international) observers may be present in other election commissions when these commissions are engaged in determining the voting results, election outcome, drawing up protocols of voting results and when votes are recounted.
A registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, a public association shall be entitled to appoint not more than two observers to the polling station of an electoral precinct.
The powers of an observer shall be certified by a written document issued by a registered candidate, an electoral association, electoral bloc, a public association whose interests are represented by the given observer, indicating the first, middle and last name of the observer, his/her place of residence as well as the number of the electoral precinct (polling station), the name of the election commission where the observer is sent. This document shall be valid if produced together with a passport or an equivalent identity paper. No advance notification about the sending of an observer shall be required.
The documents indicated in the preceding part of this article may be presented to a precinct election commission during the period indicated in Part 4 of this article, to the district election commission, the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation - from the time the commission begins to work on a protocol of voting results and general election results until this work is finished.
Observers shall be entitled to:
a) inspect voter lists;
b) be present at the polling station of the given electoral precinct on voting day at any time during the period indicated in Part 4 of this article;
c) be present when voters vote outside the voting premises;
d) watch the counting of the number of citizens on the voter lists, the number of ballots issued to voters, and the number of canceled ballots; watch votes being counted at the polling station from a distance and under conditions which allow them to observe the contents of ballots; inspect any marked and unmarked ballot when votes are counted; watch the election commission drawing up a protocol of voting results and other documents during the period indicated in Part 4 of this article;
e) make proposals and remarks concerning organization of voting to the chairman of a precinct election commission or, if the chairman is absent, to a person acting for him/her;
f) inspect the protocols of voting results drawn up by the given precinct election commission and protocols of voting results, general election results drawn up by other election commissions; make or receive from the election commission copies of the said protocols and of the documents attached thereto as well as of other documents which have been received or drawn up by the election commission in the period indicated in Part 4 of this article, including the list of persons present at the voting. Upon an observer's request an election commission shall issue or certify the said copies;
g) appeal actions (inaction) of a precinct election commission, other election commissions in a higher election commission, the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation or in a court of law in accordance with a 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»;
h) be present when the appropriate commissions recount votes.
Observers shall not:
a) issue ballots to voters;
b) sign for voters for the receipt of ballots when asked to do so by them;
c) mark ballots for voters at their request;
d) do anything that might violate the secrecy of voting;
e) directly participate in the counting of ballots together with the voting members of an election commission;
f) do acts and actions interfering with the work of an election commission;
g) carry on propaganda among voters;
h) participate in the adoption of decisions by the given election commission.
Media representatives shall be entitled to examine the protocol of voting results drawn up by the given precinct election commission and protocols of voting results or the general election results of the elections drawn up by other election commissions, make or receive from the election commission copies of the said protocols and the documents attached thereto. Upon the request of a media representative an election commission shall certify copies of the protocols.
Copies of protocols and other documents of election commissions shall be certified by the chairman or the secretary of the election commission. In this case, these persons shall write on the certified document the words «This is a true copy,» put their signatures and affix the seal of the given. election commission.
Foreign (international) observers shall receive a permission for the entry into the Russian Federation in accordance with a procedure established by a federal law if an appropriate invitation has been extended to them from a body of state power of the [Subject of the Russian Federation], the election commission of the [Subject of the Russian Federation] and shall be accredited by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The activity of foreign (international) observers shall be regulated by federal laws.
Article 31 - Organization of the Activity of Election Commissions
Election commissions shall work on a collective basis.
An election commission shall be competent to start its work if at least two-thirds of the established number of its members have been appointed.
Meetings of an election commission shall be convened and held by the chairman of the election commission or his/her deputy acting on behalf of the chairman. Meetings of a commission shall also be held upon the request of at least one-third of its voting members.
A voting member of an election commission shall be obliged to attend all commission meetings.
A meeting of an election commission shall be competent to transact business if attended by a majority of the established number of the voting members of the commission. Meetings of the election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation shall be competent to transact business if attended by at least two-thirds of its voting members.
Decisions of election commissions on the matters listed below shall be adopted at meetings of election commissions by a majority of votes of the whole number of voting members of the commission:
· election of the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary of an election commission;
· financial support of the preparation and conduct of elections;
· registration of candidates, withdrawal of registration of candidates;
· vote tabulation and determination of election results;
· declaration of elections as not having taken place or null and void;
· conduct of repeat voting or repeat elections;
· annulment of a decision of a lower election commission subject to a procedure set forth in this Law.
Decisions of election commissions concerning other issues shall be adopted by a majority of votes of the voting members of an election commission present at the meeting.
In the event of a parity of votes the chairman of an election commission shall have a casting vote
Decisions of election commissions shall be signed by the chairman and the secretary of the election commission.
Members of an election commission, including non-voting members, who disagree with a decision of an election commission may express their dissenting opinion in writing. This opinion shall be considered by the commission, recorded in the minutes of its meeting and attached thereto. The chairman of the election commission shall make this opinion known to the higher election commission within 3 days or immediately, if the opinion was expressed within 3 days prior to voting day, on voting day or on the day following voting day.
The election commission of the Subject of the Russian Federation shall have an administrative staff whose structure and organization shall be determined by the commission at its own discretion. Members of the administrative staff shall be on government service.
District and precinct election commissions may hire personnel for the performance of work related to the preparation and conduct of elections on a contractual basis.
Article 32 - Assistance to Be Rendered to Election Commissions in Their Activity
State bodies, bodies of local self-government, enterprises, institutions, organizations, enterprises with state participation and their officials shall assist election commissions in the exercise of their powers, specifically by providing required premises, transport, communication means, equipment, information and documents in accordance with a procedure established by federal laws and this Law.
State bodies, bodies of local self-government, public associations, institutions, organizations, enterprises and their officials shall supply the necessary information and documents to election commissions, respond to requests of election commissions within 5 days and, within 5 days prior to election day or on election day, immediately.
The mass media indicated in Part 1 Article 49 of this Law shall provide space for publishing information of election commissions in accordance with a procedure established by federal laws, this Law and laws of the Subject of the Russian Federation.
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