New forms of civilian control

Recently, many Russian citizens do not trust the elections in Russia and their results. Many citizens have already participated as observers. We inform citizens that they can now become a member of a precinct election commission for 5 years.

During a five-year term, the PEC will hold only a few elections. But she will definitely have to hold one election of State Duma deputies and the President of the Russian Federation, one election of regional deputies and one election of local deputies.

Despite the proud title of “permanent”, the PEC operates only before voting days. PEC members usually begin to function 20 days before voting day (the issue of reducing this period is currently being considered), and their activities before voting day are not very burdensome: they set up “duties” at the PEC premises and, while on duty, are engaged in updating voter lists and distributing absentee ballots certificates, notifying voters about elections.

Immediately before voting day, on Saturday, they equip the voting room, and if they have technical voting means (KOIBs, KEGs), they test them.

Election day and vote counting is the most stressful part of the PEC's work. This work can last 14 hours or more. You can practically expect to be out of your normal work schedule on Monday.

After the elections, PEC members receive monetary compensation for their work. Of course, this cannot serve as an incentive to become a member of the PEC.

Why become a member of the election commission? Firstly, a voting member of the commission formally has the same rights as an observer and even more (he, for example, has the right to familiarize himself with all the documents of the commission and receive copies of them).

Secondly, he signs the protocol of the election commission. In case of disagreement with the protocol, he can either not sign, or (which is more correct) submit a dissenting opinion, and in the protocol, next to his signature, write “I do not agree with the protocol, a dissenting opinion has been submitted.” The higher commission is obliged to consider this dissenting opinion.

Thirdly, the opinion of a member with a casting vote is traditionally listened to more (both by his own commission and by a higher one); he has the right not only to express an opinion, but also to put the issue to a vote, to vote independently.

Fourthly, a voting member of the commission has more access to the documents of the commission. If he issues absentee ballots, then he has access to the register of absentee ballots, if he “specifies the list of voters,” then he has access to this list.

In addition, the very presence in the commission of a member who is not subject to corporate solidarity and other means of influence is important.

What's worth remembering? The point is that a voting member must obey the decisions of the commission regarding the distribution of responsibilities. That is, if he is assigned to vote outside the premises, he will have to leave the voting premises and conduct voting outside the premises. If a commission member has been appointed to issue ballots, then he can no longer leave his place too often, move around the room a lot and observe the actions of other commission members.

The acceptance of proposals for the composition of precinct election commissions in the Voronezh region, as reported by the Election Commission of the Voronezh Region at a meeting with party representatives on December 18, 2012, will take place from February 1 to March 7, 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 from;

· 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 can have time to correct it.

From whom can one advance? In accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 22 and paragraph 4 of Article 27 of the Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights...”

A) Bodies of parties and public associations authorized by the charter;

B) Representative body of the municipality;

C) Meetings of voters at the place of residence, work, service, study.

Citizens are required to:

· application from a citizen (according to the approved form);

· a copy of your passport or a document replacing a passport;

· two photographs 3*4 (without corner);

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

· 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 regional centers will, unlike villages, be “territorial”, that is, a citizen may be invited to become a member of another election commission of the city or regional 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 in connection with the entry into force court decisions on 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 become a member of the precinct election commission.

Based on the experience of covering elections by the GOLOS Association, as well as the experience of observing 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 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 .

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

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 ;

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

· write to golos@vrn-net.org.

For more information contact:

Coordinator of the Association "VOICE" in the Voronezh region

Bespalov Vladislav

8 (920) 44-300-20

golos@vrn-net.org