Amendments were introduced to the Duma to make presidential elections more accessible

Amendments to the law on presidential elections in the Russian Federation have been submitted to the State Duma, Pavel Krasheninnikov, head of the Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation, told media representatives.

Commenting on the initiatives, he noted that the introduced bill synchronizes changes in the electoral legislation in terms of a unified approach to elections at all levels of government. This is a “spot adjustment of the system,” which, according to him, “was necessary.” At the same time, “no radical changes in the electoral legislation” are envisaged.

Thus, photo and video recording at polling stations can only be carried out by persons who have the right to do so in accordance with the law, excluding violation of the secrecy of voting and control over the expression of the will of voters. It is also mandatory to maintain the confidentiality of personal data in voter lists and other documents.

The rule is established that in the event of a criminal record of a registered candidate, an obligation is introduced to provide information about the criminal record in writing.

Among other things, the bill proposes to establish a maximum cost for the production of propaganda materials in the amount of 2% of the subsistence level per capita in the Russian Federation per unit of product (currently this limit is 100 rubles).

It is also proposed to introduce amendments according to which media representatives working in editorial offices on the basis of an employment contract can be accredited to meetings of election commissions. The powers of the candidates’ proxies are clarified, and others are proposed innovations.

According to the current electoral legislation, the presidential elections in the Russian Federation should take place in mid-March 2024, and the final decision on the date of the elections will be made by the Federation Council in December 2023.