CEC to offer ways to improve public oversight of elections

The CEC of Russia, in pursuance of the instructions of the president, will submit proposals for improving the mechanisms of public control in the electoral process, they can be applied already in the next campaign and in the presidential elections in 2024, stated Department head Ella Pamfilova.

Relevant assignment Head of State Vladimir Putin gave following the results of the meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights on December 7, 2022. The report of the CEC and the presidential administration should be prepared by July 1.

Pamfilova noted that the CEC was one of the initiators of the creation of the institution of public observation in 2017. Since then, public observers have significantly increased independent control over the elections, “shaking up” the work of election commissions.

“Nevertheless, there are definitely points of growth in this direction – both in terms of forming a sustainable community of public observers and in terms of improving their professional qualifications. Therefore, of course, the Central Election Commission will prepare its proposals, which can be applied already in the next campaign and in the upcoming presidential elections in Russia,” Pamfilova said.

On September 10, regional elections will be held in Russia. It is planned to elect 20 governors in direct elections, five in indirect ones, as well as deputies of 20 legislative assemblies. In particular, regional parliaments will be elected for the first time in four new constituent entities of the Federation.

As previously reported by Kommersant, the Kremlin’s domestic political bloc began preparations for the 2024 presidential campaign, based on the fact that Putin will take part in the elections. According to the interlocutors of the publication, representatives of the administration have already held appropriate consultations with the expert community. At the same time, there are still no clear contours of the ideological component, although it is assumed that it will be based on the theme of unity.