MOSCOW, November 7 Federation Council Committee on constitutional legislation and state building supported amendments to the law on presidential elections, the correspondent reports.
The bill clarifies the provisions of the election law and brings them into line with other changes already made to federal laws. One of the amendments concerns photo and video filming at polling stations — only those who have the right to do so in accordance with the law will be allowed to do so. The bill also stipulates the mandatory preservation of confidentiality of personal data appearing in voter lists and other documents.
Another new rule obliges a registered candidate, if he has a criminal record, to report this to the election commission in writing. In addition, the bill establishes the specifics of opening and using accounts of election commissions, regulates issues of remuneration of commission members and establishes the possibility of co-financing the preparation and conduct of presidential elections from the federal and local budget.
The maximum cost for the production of propaganda materials is also established. The document defines it at two percent of the subsistence level per capita per unit of production, whereas in the current version this limit is 100 rubles. Another amendment concerns the accreditation of media representatives at meetings of election commissions — only those who work in the editorial office on the basis of an employment contract will be allowed there.
The bill also includes a provision allowing the Central Election Commission to establish the specifics of the preparation and conduct of elections during the military period. provisions or postpone voting if it may pose a threat to the life and health of citizens. And the heads of Russian diplomatic missions will have the right in such cases to change the voting time at foreign polling stations. In this case, diplomats must immediately inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission.
The State Duma adopted the law on October 25. The Federation Council plans to consider it on November 8. According to the first deputy chairman of the constitutional committee, Vladimir Poletaev, senators will support the amendments.