Residents of new areas and visitors will be able to participate in the presidential elections ahead of schedule and at home

The three-day presidential elections in four new constituent entities of the Russian Federation – the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will be preceded by early voting, which will take place throughout their entire territory due to martial law. The election commissions will determine the deadline for the “early term” locally on their own. According to Kommersant, preliminary, as in September 2023, residents of the annexed territories, as well as military personnel, doctors and builders will be able to vote approximately within a week before the first day of elections.

The chairman of the regional election commission, Galina Katyushchenko, spoke about the holding of early voting in the presidential elections in the Zaporozhye region at the end of January. According to her, “due to the conditions of the Northern Military District,” the entire territory of the region is considered inaccessible. Members of precinct election commissions (PECs) will come to citizens’ homes, added Ms. Katyushchenko. She did not specify the terms of the “premium” deadline.

Let us remind you that, according to the federal law “On Presidential Elections,” the election commissions of the constituent entities have the right to allow early voting “for all voters at one or more polling stations established on ships… polar stations, in hard-to-reach or remote areas.” You can tick your ballot early “no earlier than 20 days” before the main voting day. The presidential elections are scheduled for March 17; accordingly, early expression of will can begin on February 25.

The press service of the Zaporozhye regional election commission told Kommersant that the commission has already adopted a resolution on holding early voting, but it has not been published for security reasons. On the same basis, they considered it premature to disclose the deadlines appearing in the document.

A Kommersant source close to the leadership of the Zaporozhye region says that the resolution provides for the maximum possible period, that is, starting from February 25, but in reality the “early term” starts a little later – in early March: “Especially in the territories near the line of combat contact ” According to the interlocutor, “nothing will change for voters,” since they will be left with a choice: come to the polling stations, “which will open in the same way as throughout Russia,” or check the box at home. “Bringing everyone only to the polling stations would not be the most, let’s say, thoughtful decision,” explains the source. — We have a lot of business travelers, and not only military personnel, but also construction workers and doctors. The goal is to give them the opportunity to vote.”

In the elections in September 2023, when legislative assemblies were elected in all four new subjects, early voting started on August 31 (in the DPR and Zaporozhye region) and September 2 (in the LPR and Kherson region), that is, nine and seven days before the main one, respectively. . In total, according to the Central Election Commission, 26% of voters in the LPR, 28% in the Zaporozhye region, 47% in the DPR and 53% in the Kherson region made their choice ahead of schedule.

The press service of the DPR election commission told Kommersant that the “working date” for the start of early voting is now March 10, but “changes are possible in accordance with the operational situation.” “In each specific case, this will be determined by the territorial election commission,” the press service added. A Kommersant source close to the DPR leadership says that there are still “many” options on what day early voting should begin, and “there is no final decision.”

The head of the Kherson regional election commission, Marina Zakharova, said at the end of January that “the dates of early voting are still being determined.” Yesterday she did not answer Kommersant’s questions. The press service of the commission reported to Kommersant that on February 7 there will be a meeting dedicated to the “early schedule”, the results of which Ms. Zakharova will report at a press conference.

Andrey Prah