Ulyanovsk Regional Electoral Commission is investigating the appearance of suspicious questionnaires for voters

In the Ulyanovsk region, questionnaires are distributed by mail, in which voters are asked about their political preferences and desire to vote at home, and they also offer to give consent to the processing of personal data to the Moscow ANO Center PRISP. One of the center’s leaders, Anton Sadkin, is known in the region as a political strategist who provides assistance to local United Russia members, but the regional branch of the party says they have nothing to do with the poll. The Electoral Commission of the region has begun its investigation, they do not exclude the involvement of law enforcement agencies in it. The chairman of the commission, however, does not yet see “obvious violations of the electoral legislation.”

The fact that in the Ulyanovsk region through the “Post of Russia” citizens are offered some questionnaires, “Kommersant” was told by a source in the regional election commission. According to him, “so far it is known for sure that their distribution is being prepared or is already underway in three districts – Karsun, Sur and Veshkaym”.

In questionnaires (Kommersant has a copy), citizens are asked how they evaluate the activities of President Vladimir Putin and Ulyanovsk Governor Alexei Russkikh (elected in 2021), which of the five Duma parties they trust.

The question is also asked whether the voter in the autumn elections to the regional legislature and local authorities wants to vote at home: if he agrees, he must fill out the attached application to the precinct commission (PEC), and “on the voting days of September 8, 9 and 10, PEC representatives. An application form is placed on the tear-off part, in which you should indicate your full name, address and telephone number, and on the back of the form – confirm your consent to the processing of personal data by the Center for Applied Research and Programs (Centre for PRISP, Moscow). According to Kartoteka.ru, one of the co-founders of the PRISP Center and the director of its regional projects is Anton Sadkin. It is known about him that in 2006 he received a two-year suspended sentence for obstructing the counting of votes during the election of the mayor of Kineshma (Ivanovo region).

The interlocutor of “Kommersant” in the regional election committee says that the region has not yet encountered such a method of interaction with voters. “It is very convenient for the organizers to receive personal information about the voter along with his political preferences. Then, depending on the preferences for those who are ready to vote for the desired party, you can send representatives of the election commission to the house by submitting a completed application form to the PEC, and do not give applications to the PEC of those who prefer another party, ”our interlocutor said. . Thus, he believes, it is possible to exclude part of the protest votes. In rural areas, this will be all the easier because the pensioners living there are used to trusting postmen.

Marina Egorochkina, head of the Karsun Territorial Electoral Commission, told Kommersant that she has data on the receipt of questionnaires by the regional branch of the Russian Post. Russian Post on Wednesday did not provide Kommersant with comments on the distribution of questionnaires.

The PRISP Center also did not respond to Kommersant’s request about the purposes of the survey on Wednesday, but the executive director of the organization, Vadim Potemin, said that according to the questionnaires “there is an agreement”, and “its content and information about who it is concluded with is commercial secret”.

Anton Sadkin also refused to talk about the purpose of the survey. However, he explained to Kommersant that “not a single voter has yet received such a sheet in his hands”, “the agreements have not yet been signed and there are only some preliminary versions of the questionnaires.”

According to some reports, Mr. Sadkin is assisting the regional branch of United Russia. However, the secretary of the Ulyanovsk “United Russia” Vladimir Kameko assured “Kommersant” that “the regional branch has no agreement with the PRISP Center”: “It’s too expensive, we conduct surveys with the help of our activists.”

Yury Andriyenko, chairman of the regional electoral committee, told Kommersant that he was aware of the situation and “the commission is investigating this matter.” “So far, there are no obvious violations of the electoral legislation here. But questions arise: why is it that someone suggests filling out a form for voting at home? It’s not the business of the postman or anyone else. Why do they need personal information? We will treat this very carefully,” Mr. Andrienko noted. He also suggested that law enforcement agencies could be involved in the investigation.

Sergey Titov, Ulyanovsk