Without lumbering

The head of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova opposed the holding of school referenda in polling stations. This is reported by Interfax.

“There can not be any additional actions, so -called surveys and referenda in principle in principle. Any public initiatives can be, but in any case they cannot be mixed with the voting process, and they must be held autonomous,” said Pamfilova. “This is strictly prohibited by law.”

"As for the initiative in general, such as school referendums, we have now requested detailed information to understand what it is, are there any questions that could interfere with the electoral process. We will figure out in the near future and give our assessment," the head of the Central Election Commission promised.

On Wednesday, the press service of the CEC said that Pamfilova and General Director of Russian Post Nikolai Podguzov signed an interaction agreement. The parties will cooperate on the issues of informing voters on the procedure for conducting presidential elections. The Russian Post will assist in the spread of printed and audiovisual materials prepared by the CEC as part of the information and reference campaign. In addition, polling stations will be organized on the basis of several dozen post offices.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Moscow City Walent Committee Valentin Gorbunov said that the initiators of the local referendum on the association of Moscow municipalities Maryino and Lublino, who was also scheduled for the presidential election, refused to hold it. “As far as I know, the initiative group for holding a referendum yesterday withdrew its initiative yesterday. That is, there will be no referendum,” Gorbunov said. “Perhaps the initiative group decided to refuse the referendum, talking with voters. But Maryino is now one of the largest areas of Moscow.”

Gorbunov also said that the Moscow City Services of Moscow “My Documents” launched a joint project to inform Muscovites about the upcoming elections. "A joint project provides for the opportunity to reach each apartment, talk about the upcoming elections, about the possibilities to vote not only at the place of registration, but also at the actual place of residence," the head of MGIK said.

Elena Gromova, director of the My Documents Centers, said that during the information campaign from January 29 to March 12, the bypass of all the apartments of Muscovites will be carried out twice. "Participation in the presidential election is the civic duty of each Muscovite, and to exercise this vote right, he must know everything about the voting procedure. Ideally, so that we reach every voter," Gromova noted.

On Monday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that school referendums are not held on the presidential election day in order to increase the turnout. “It’s rather, on the contrary, school activists took advantage of the appearance in the presidential election, because no one ever goes to their referendums. This is the only chance to decide at least something in their school,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, the media reported that school referendums and all kinds of surveys and voting on local issues are considered by the authorities as a means of increasing the appearance. In addition, in the presidential administration, to increase activity, voters were recommended to local authorities to hold various competitions and games at polling stations.