The formation of PECs in Voronezh is “just around the corner”

Recently, Russian citizens have become more suspicious of what we call elections. The number of observers and commission members with an advisory voice at polling stations has increased. For citizens and, especially, concerned citizens, we inform you that the process of forming polling stations from “mere mortals” for 5 years can be considered almost launched in the Voronezh region. Today, December 18, 2012, a meeting was held at the election commission of the Voronezh region with representatives of political parties, where the Coordinator of the GOLOS Association in the Voronezh region V.I. Bespalov was also present. At the meeting, those present were given Methodological Recommendations to political parties and public associations on the procedure for submitting proposals for candidates to the PEC and participating in the formation of the reserve, approved on the same day.

During the meeting, the process of forming district election commissions for 5 years was discussed. Thus, it became known that the formation of polling stations in the territory will be completed by January 20, 2013, a list of which with boundaries and numbers must be published in the media no later than January 25, 2013.

At the same time or after this, territorial election commissions must publish a message about the acceptance of proposals for candidates for PECs, and messages will be posted on the website of the Election Commission of the Voronezh Region (no later than January 31, 2013). Reception of proposals for the composition of precinct election commissions will take place from February 1 to March 7, 2013, and the formation of PECs will take place from March 11, 2013 to April 1, 2013.

Thus, all citizens who wish to become members of election commissions must be ready by February 1, i.e.:

• understand which political party or public organization they want to become a member of the precinct commission;

• collect and prepare all documents required for submission.

Why is it necessary to do this in advance? If there are inaccuracies in your documents or something is missing, you will have time to correct it.

From whom you can nominate:

• political parties and regional branches of parties;

• public organizations whose charters provide for these powers;

• meetings at the place of residence, study and work.

The list of those who cannot be a member of the commission is long, but you still need to see it:

• stateless persons, dual citizens or citizens with a residence permit;

• persons recognized as incompetent or partially capable;

• citizens under 18 years of age;

• legislators, elected officials, judges and prosecutors;

• candidates and their proxies;

• subordinates, spouses and close relatives of candidates and close relatives of candidates;

• persons who have an unexpunged and outstanding criminal record, as well as persons who were brought to administrative responsibility by the court for violating election legislation within 1 year from the date the court decision entered into legal force

After a citizen has decided on a party or organization, and has also confirmed that he is not subject to restrictions, he must prepare documents (perhaps the party or public organization will help with this). Citizens are required to:

1. citizen’s application (according to the approved form);

2. a copy of a passport or a document replacing a passport;

3. two photographs 3*4 (without corner);

4. decision of an authorized body (issued by a party or public organization);

5. a certificate from the main place of work or work book, or confirming the status of a non-working person (unemployed, student, pensioner).

If a citizen does not work, then he can provide a copy of his employment record with a note about his last place of work and a personal statement from the citizen indicating the relevant status.

What is especially worth noting are the following key points of the emerging “campaign”:

• 50% of the PEC composition will be formed from candidates proposed by parties;

• priority will be given to “parliamentary” parties;

• all citizens who did not become members of the commissions fall into the “reserve”.

• Members of precinct commissions will be replaced from the reserve pool.

• The reserve in cities and district centers will, unlike villages, be “territorial”, i.e. a citizen may be invited to become a member of another election commission of the city or district center (with consent).

Quite a lot of questions arise about the possibility of refusing membership. There is only one answer - you can stop being a member by writing a statement, but no less than 11 days before the elections (we don’t really need the option of death, missing persons or recognized dead), falling under the above restrictions, or due to the entry into force of the decision courts upon the application of the PEC to recognize a citizen as systematically not acting as a member of the PEC. In this regard, we recommend that you think very carefully about how ready you are to be a member of the precinct election commission.

It should be remembered that the status of a voting member of the PEC provides many advantages (access to the documents of the election commission, the opportunity to put questions to a vote and vote, present a special opinion to be considered by the TEC) for citizens who want to participate in one of the forms of civil control, and imposes obligations for work in the period before the elections, including notification of citizens about the elections, and “duty” at polling stations.

Based on the experience of covering elections by the GOLOS Association, as well as the experience of monitoring political parties in Russia, “psychological pressure” is often directed at independent members of commissions and observers, so it is necessary to be able to not succumb to pressure and defend your opinion to the end, since we are all citizens of this country and we are not indifferent to what is happening in it in many spheres of public life.

Early on, the Voronezh City Election Commission was formed in Voronezh. This story was overshadowed by the fact that the Election Commission of the Voronezh Region made a decision to introduce candidates based on the proposals received before the deadline for proposals ( http://golos.org/news/6683 ).

We encourage citizens to become members of the PEC with voting rights. The association "GOLOS" in Voronezh controls the process of forming election commissions and has organized consulting support for citizens wishing to join precinct election commissions. In addition, training and distribution of benefits will be organized.

If you would like to become a member of a precinct election commission, you can:

• fill out the form on the website http://uik.golos.org or http://tinyurl.com/955kbw3

• call 8-800-333-33-50 daily from 10:00 to 20:00

• by writing to golos@vrn-net.org

For additional information, please call: 8 (920) 44-300-20 or write to golos@vrn-net.org