State Duma postponed Russian presidential elections on Crimea’s annexation day

UFA, 24 May 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Olga Murtazina/. The State Duma postponed the day of the Russian presidential election on the day of Crimea's accession, RBC reports . The deputies adopted amendments to the electoral legislation in the third reading, canceling absentee ballots and setting the date of elections.

Absentee ballots will not be used in the next election. To vote not at the place of his registration, a voter should submit an application to the electoral office at the place of staying not later than at 14.00 a day before the voting (but not earlier than before 45 days).

It was decided to postpone the election date from the second Sunday in March to the third. In 2018, this is March 18 - the fourth anniversary of the signing by the President of Russia of an agreement on Crimea’s accession to Russia.

"According to the current legislation, presidential elections in Russia are held on the second Sunday in March. However, if this Sunday turns out to be a working day due to transfer of holidays (for example, on March 8), then elections should be postponed to the first Sunday of the month. The senators proposed to change this system and postpone the elections not for the previous one, but next Sunday of the month because of the holidays," the publication explains.