Election absentee ballots may be canceled - CEC of Russia

UFA, 9 March 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. The electoral legislation of Russia will be amended. It is also planned to cancel absentee certificates. Appropriate bills have been submitted to the State Duma. They were initiated by the Federation Council members Andrei Klishas and Anatoly Shirokov.

The Chairman of the CEC of Russia Ella Pamfilova positively characterized the package of amendments introduced by the senators.

Ella Pamfilova believes that one of the main changes is abolition of absentee ballots.

"If amendments to the legislation are adopted, we will create the most favourable voting conditions on the basis of "presumption of trust". This will remove bureaucratic procedures. Everything will operate according to an actual procedure: a citizen came with a passport and voted. The CEC of Russia will ensure to avoid any abusive acts, cases of double voting", the press service quotes the head of the department.

In addition, the amendments are aimed at liberalizing the approach to appointing observers, simplifying requirements for collecting signatures in support of the candidate, introducing additional guarantees to ensure the transparency of electoral commissions.