Everyone dances

Election commissions will create a festive atmosphere at voting stations

The last review of the country's election management was organized yesterday by members of the Central Election Commission during an audio-video conference with the election commissions of the constituent entities of the federation. Opening this event, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, pleased those gathered with the news that 95,698 voting stations had already been established in Russia, and another 354 abroad, in 141 countries of the world. 3,286 points of expression of will are provided in places of deprivation of liberty, 36 at train stations and 35 for persons without registration.

Mr. Churov also recalled that in almost all regions, along with parliamentary elections, elections at other levels are held: municipal, legislative assemblies, and local referendums. The GAS “Elections” system is already ready for work in all subjects of the federation; overlays have been released only in Dagestan, the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Tomsk Region. Vladimir Churov demanded that the issue be “positively resolved” with ensuring the work of the State Automated System in these regions by Tuesday, November 20. And CEC member Vasily Kryukov reminded his colleagues in the regions that they will not have to sleep on the night of December 3: by six or seven in the morning, protocols from all polling stations must be transferred to the territorial election commission and entered into the system, because at nine in the morning on December 3, Vladimir Churov will announce the preliminary voting results in front of the cameras.

CEC member Maya Grishina spoke about the problems of campaigning, especially emphasizing that a number of parties have already withdrawn their advertising videos that criticized other political forces. The Election Law prohibited scolding opponents in this election cycle. Ms. Grishina also mentioned the ill-fated SPS newspaper “Problema No. 1,” the circulation of which was seized by the police in many regions. According to Ms. Grishina, on October 4, party leader Nikita Belykh personally sent a letter to the Central Election Commission with a request to stop the distribution of a newspaper with the same name, since it is a fake that discredits the Union of Right Forces. It turns out that law enforcement officers confiscated circulations not at all in order to stifle freedom of agitation, but at the request of the victims themselves, who did not change the name of their publications in time.

The same newspaper was mentioned by the head of the election commission of the Omsk region, Alexander Kushnarev, who spoke via video link. According to him, 5.5 million copies of “Problem No. 1” were detained in the region, although according to documents the circulation was only 600 thousand. At the same time, only 1.5 million voters live in the region. “We are successfully resolving the situation,” Mr. Kushnarev reported bravely.

Also, the heads of regional commissions pleased the Central Election Commission with their creativity on the topic of increasing turnout, especially among young people. In the Omsk region they came up with a competition for the title of the best voting university. Children's poetry and drawing competitions on the theme of elections were held in the Penza and Ryazan regions. The winners' creations were placed on invitations sent to people to visit the sites.

In this regard, Vladimir Churov recalled that recently in Chuvashia and Bashkiria “unidentified persons” on behalf of government structures sent out orders to residents to appear for elections under pain of criminal liability. “This is a provocation aimed at undermining the authority of election commissions,” Mr. Churov warned. According to him, the true workers of election commissions will never allow themselves to do this, but will attract the electorate exclusively by non-violent methods. For example, creating a “holiday atmosphere” at polling stations—this recommendation was made by Vasily Kryukov. The head of the Ryazan Regional Electoral Committee, Galina Muravyova, quickly responded to this proposal, saying that “thematic discos” had already been held in the Ryazan region as part of improving the legal culture of citizens. And on December 2, the electorate in the region will be lured to the polls using old, proven methods - inexpensive buffets and sales of agricultural products at producer prices.

The cheerful mood of regional election commissioners is spoiled only by annoying checks from various services. “From the prosecutor’s office to technical supervision, in recent weeks everyone has been interested in everything related to the elections,” complained Alexander Kushnarev. “But we greet them like family!” And Ms. Muravyova complained about financial audits, during which “they require information not only about the receipt, but also about the expenditure of funds.” In her opinion, in a pre-election environment this will “destabilize the work of the commission.” “But this is not for the sake of idle curiosity,” Vladimir Churov answered and reminded his colleagues that before voting day he would confer with them again, but without video - over the intercom. This final “check-in” is scheduled for November 29th.

Natalia ROZHKOVA