Russian President Approves Amendments to Presidential Election Law

The amended law “On the Election of the President of the Russian Federation” clarifies the provisions on the right to take photos and film at polling stations and the obligation to comply with the rules of voting secrecy and protection of the confidentiality of personal data in voter lists and other documents. In addition, restrictions are introduced on filming at polling stations in military units. Only registered media representatives can carry out filming and photography in these places after agreement with the unit commander. In addition, according to the law, only media representatives working on the basis of an employment contract are allowed to attend meetings of the election commission.

The amended document also prohibits election campaigning on websites to which Roskomnadzor restricts access and allows the creation of an electronic register of announcements to provide citizens with the ability to vote outside polling stations on election day.

The amendment also stipulates that if a registered candidate has a criminal record, he or she must provide the election commission with information about his or her criminal record in writing. At the same time, a person who has been administratively sanctioned cannot be a member of election commissions with voting advisory powers until the end of his or her term of office.

The law also regulates the procedure for conducting voting at polling stations abroad, according to which the beginning, end and duration of voting can be changed by decision of the head of a diplomatic mission or consular post if voting poses a threat to the life and health of citizens of the Russian Federation. The law also stipulates that the powers of a candidate's proxy will be terminated at the end of the campaign period and sets the maximum cost of publishing campaign materials at 2% of the per capita subsistence level in Russia for each document. The law comes into force from the date of its official publication on November 14.

The law amending the presidential election was passed by the lower house of parliament on October 25 and by the upper house on November 8. The Russian presidential election is scheduled to be held in March 2024.