Embarrassing questions about the election in 2016 Who is “single-seat districts”? What happens if you spoil the ballot?
Meduza17:47, 9 September 2016
Photo: Alexander Tarasenkov / inter / TASS
On September 18, Russia single day of voting. Citizens will determine the composition of the next Duma, in 39 regions will pass elections in regional parliaments in nine regions will choose new leaders. “Medusa” answering embarrassing questions about voting, which may occur in those who do not follow policy.
First things first. Who is still a “single-seat districts”?!
A Deputy, elected by residents of single-member districts. Elections to the state Duma on 18 September will be held under a mixed system; that is, half of the deputies, 225 people will choose according to party lists and half in single — mandate constituencies. Called single-member district, because each is allocated one mandate — that is, everywhere choose one Deputy.
The boundaries of single-mandate districts determined by the CEC, trying to do so on each MP-single-seat districts had approximately the same number of voters and that the County did not go beyond the region. So in Moscow, where registered 7.3 million voters, formed 15 single-member districts, and, for example, in the Astrakhan region — the only one. Voters living abroad, the CEC distributed between the 75 single-mandate constituencies. The geographical principle in this case had to compromise: in the end the US elect deputies, Muscovites, UK — Tomic, and Latvia — Sakhalin.
In single-member districts shall vote only a few hundred thousand people. Because of this, it turns out that voters in the districts have a larger share than in Federal elections. For example, in the Ingush constituency (he is one of the smallest) of the MP will choose only 212 thousand voters. To influence his vote on the outcome of the election, there is much easier than even in neighboring Dagestan, where he formed three districts with an average population of 540 thousand voters.
Candidates in single-mandate constituencies can be nominated from political parties or act independently from any political forces. Summary information about all registered candidates can be found on the CEC website at this link. If you are interested in independent candidates, in the subject line of promotion” in the search you need to specify the word “self”.
And who is involved? Again, the “United Russia”, KPRF, LDPR and Yabloko?
In total, these elections involved 14 parties. Some of them are well familiar to Russian voters: KPRF, LDPR, Yabloko, United Russia and just Russia are struggling for seats in the state Duma for more than ten years. Besides these, there are a few parties that are somehow involved in the political process in recent years: “Parnassus”, “Civic platform”, “Civil force”, “Communists of Russia” “Party of pensioners” and “Patriots of Russia”. There is “Motherland”, “Party of growth” (formerly “the Right thing”) and “Green”.
The lists of candidates from political parties can be viewed on the CEC website.
To get into the Duma, parties need to overcome the 5 percent barrier. To do this, most likely, will not all: for example, in the elections of 2007 and 2011 years to overcome a set threshold could only “United Russia”, KPRF, LDPR and “Fair Russia” in 2007 in the block “Fair Russia” was part of the party “Motherland”, “pensioners ‘ Party” and “Party of life”).
It is important to remember that the parties that are gaining more than 3 percent of the vote, enjoyed government support. They receive funding from the budget for 110 rubles for each cast for their voice. State support can be an important source of income for a political party. For example, the “Apple” in 2015, 99% of revenue were accounted for government funding.
And a column “against all” is?
No. The count was in elections at all levels until 2006, but then it was canceled. The decision explained that without the column “against all” candidates will have to work more effectively with the electorate and so do not have to hold costly second election. In 2014, the count is still returned, but only for local elections.
In addition to the column “against all” in a fair election, there are several other strategies of protest behavior: for example, to spoil the ballot or take it with you. Ballot papers on which there was not one party or observed all at once shall be invalid, but taken into account in the distribution of votes (therefore, with the help of spoilt ballot papers is possible to achieve the second round of elections — for example, when voting for governors). The newsletter, issued from the site, not included in the counting of votes.
Some citizens believe elections are so compromised that they prefer not to walk. This option is more emotional than pragmatic. Staying at home, you can only affect the turnout; turnout in Russia, and therefore, elections will be held anyway.
And what would deal with MPs?
A lot of it. The right deputies of the state Duma enshrined in the law “About the status of a member of the Council of Federation and status of Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation”. It says that members can submit to the state Duma draft laws and participate in the discussions — so they can affect which the country adopted laws. In addition, members of Parliament have the right to submit to the government the queries — for example, with the requirement to provide them with the necessary information. They can also require officials to eliminate violations of citizens ‘ rights. Finally, the Parliament shall be held “government hours”, during which MPs can directly ask members of government questions — that is, they have the ability to control the work of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Why in some regions, you can choose the governors and others not?
According to the law, it’s up to the regions themselves. The ability to determine how to choose the governors of the regions were given in 2013. Initially the decision was explained as a reluctance to pave way for conflict in ethnically complex regions. For example, in Dagestan, where Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins, and several dozen ethnic groups, the direct elections of the head of region has never been conducted.
However, the opportunity to withdraw from the elections began to use other regions — primarily those where there is an obvious dominant ethnic group: Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea. In the end, from all the republics of the North Caucasus the direct election of the Governor was only in Chechnya. To join the Russian Crimea and Sevastopol also decided not to hold gubernatorial elections. Finally, they refused, and the three Autonomous okrugs: Nenets, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi.
Why bother to hold elections? After all, everything is decided “up there”?
We don’t know whether the vote count in this election, honest or not. In the ranking of political and civil liberties, Russia referred to the “nonfree” States. The question of why in the countries with authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes hold elections, widely discussed in political science. The theories that formulate this question, “Medusa” said associate Professor of the Institute of social Sciences of Ranepa Catherine Shulman.
First, there is the theory of imitation: the democratic procedure is needed in order to make an impression on external partners and the population itself. External partners need to show the election to continue to receive financial assistance (for poor countries) or to participate in international alliances and agreements, including trade — for this is required to comply with certain rules. In addition, citizens, even in third world countries, guess where the elections are held and parliaments have, for some reason, more often iPhones, medicines and food.
Another version: through elections, the authoritarian regime co-opts (includes) those social forces that could oppose him. This is evidenced by the theory of co-optation. However, these terms can we describe the election process in a democracy, those powers that are involved in legitimate public political process, become part of the system, not radicalized.
The third theory — the theory of administrative exchanges, which describes the Parliament as the site where are traded and agree elite. This is similar to the parliamentary system in a democracy, but without the voters: as a rule, elections are formal and to participate in them only systemic political players. In this case, the Parliament decides rather important issues such as budget, taxes or the distribution of power between bureaucratic structures.
Not to say that in authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes, the Parliament is unimportant. He may not so well represent the society in democratic countries, but it’s still one of the most important elements of power.
I want the elections were fair. It makes sense to register an observer?
Yes, it does. Observers are important participants in the electoral process. On voting day, they fix the violation, let them and tell the public about how honest were the elections. They collected the documents can then be used to changes in legislation.
If you want to become observers, it is still not too late. You need to contact by candidates, parties or public organizations that provide election monitoring (for example, the Association “the Voice”). To work in this election, the safest place in the status of election Commission member with a consultative vote. In contrast to the status of “observer” does not require it to notify the territorial election commissions about your name and whereabouts on the day of voting.
“Jellyfish,” thanks for the help in creating the material of the head of regional programs of the Foundation for information policy Alexander Kanev, co-chair of the Council of the movement in defense of voters ‘ rights “Golos” Gregory Melkonyants and associate Professor, Institute of social Sciences of Ranepa Catherine Shulman.
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