Statement on the Results of Civic Election Observation
On September 13, 2015, more than ten thousand elections took place in Russia, including the elections of 21 governors, 11 deputies of regional parliaments, and elections of representative bodies of 25 regional capitals. The 2015 local elections are the last full-scale dress rehearsal of the Russian electoral system—in preparing, organizing, and conducting an Election Day—before […]
Analytical Report № 6: Final Stage of Election Campaign
This report finds that a number of election commissions organizing the elections are arbitrary and biased when it comes to governing the campaign activities of election participants. The election commissions show favor and indulgence towards the administrative ruling party candidates, and prejudice towards the opposition representatives.
Golos Report on the Final Stage of Agitation
General Conclusion This report finds that a number of election commissions organizing the elections are arbitrary and biased when it comes to governing the campaign activities of election participants. The election commissions show favor and indulgence towards the administrative ruling party candidates, and prejudice towards the opposition representatives. Use of administrative resources has long been […]
Analytical Report № 5: Compliance with the Principles and Standards of Democratic Elections in the Initial Campaign Stage
In the process of registration, candidates and parties must pass a “signature filter,” i.e. they must collect a certain number of signatures to qualify for registration. Refusals to register a candidate or party occur for other reasons as well, and these can impact even candidates and parties exempt from signature collection. Election participants often find […]
Local elections in Russia, 13.09.2015: Golos Report on the Agitation
Summary In the process of registration, candidates and parties must pass a “signature filter,” i.e. they must collect a certain number of signatures to qualify for registration. Refusals to register a candidate or party occur for other reasons as well, and these can impact even candidates and parties exempt from signature collection. Election participants often […]
GOLOS analyses unlawful foreign campaign financing
Election Campaign Financing for the Election of the Heads of Subjects of the Russian Federation The results of the study clearly show that the system of election fund financing for gubernatorial candidates is sorely in need of transparency. Financing mechanisms used by parties and candidates prevent voters from gaining full access to information about the […]
Golos and EPDE protest against continuing persecution of civic election observers in the run-up of Local Elections 2015
On July 27, the Ministry of Justice included the Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development “Golos-Ural” in the registry of NGOs performing the functions of a foreign agent. “Golos-Ural” is part of a regional network of organizations operating under the auspices (as participants) of the Movement for the Defense of Voters’Rights “Golos.” During an […]
The Practice of Bringing to Justice Members of Election Commissions for Electoral Violations
Conclusions and RecommendationsAdministrative penalties that may be levied on members of election commissions are relatively minor in comparison to the severity of their transgressions. Often, holding commission members administratively responsible is indicative of efforts to conceal more serious violations of electoral laws, such as falsification of electoral documents and ballot rigging.Most of the information presented […]
Analytical Report № 3: The Practice of Bringing to Justice Members of Election Commissions for Electoral Violations in the run-up to Election Day
Administrative penalties that may be levied on members of election commissions are relatively minor in comparison to the severity of their transgressions. Often, holding commission members administratively responsible is indicative of efforts to conceal more serious violations of electoral laws, such as falsification of electoral documents and ballot rigging.
Nomination of Candidates and Registration of Party Lists fot the Local Elections
As part of this study, the following characteristics and patterns were determined to be typical for the stage of nominating candidates and party lists in the observed regional and local election campaigns for September 13, 2015: • Insufficient information transparency and insufficient service ability of election commissions; • Discriminatory signature collection in support of candidate […]