Electoral constituencies and polling stations are the territories in which voting is carried out. They are created in accordance with constitutional, federal, regional laws, as well as municipal regulations. Let us further consider how the formation of constituencies, polling stations occurs.
Signs
Election districts and polling stations have a number of distinctive features. First of all, it should be noted that voting in these territories is carried out by citizens. This means that the formation of electoral districts, polling stations is not allowed in unpopulated areas. It is necessary to note one nuance. Only the territory in which citizens of the Russian Federation live can serve as a constituency. In accordance with the law, voting is carried out directly. The rules provide for the rules by which the distribution of polling stations by constituencies is carried out. It should be such that the boundaries of the former do not go beyond the boundaries of the latter.
Constituencies, precincts, commissions: specifics
It should be noted a number of features characteristic of the territories in which elections are held. First of all, it must be said that constituencies and polling stations are created on the basis of various regulatory acts. The procedure for the former is established exclusively by federal, constitutional legislation. Polling stations are formed by the heads of local administrations of municipal districts no later than 45 days before the start of voting. At the same time, data on the number of voters is taken into account. Creation of sites is carried out in agreement with the commissions, based on no more than 3 thousand citizens per territory.
The convocation of the latter is carried out on proposals from political parties, other public associations, a representative body of the Moscow Region, and meetings of citizens at the place of work, residence, study or service. The creation of precinct commissions is carried out by higher territorial structures. In accordance with the requirements of the law, the latter appoint at least 1/2 of the total number of PEC members. The number of participants with a casting vote depends on the number of voting citizens in a particular territory:
- Up to 1001 - 3-9 members.
- From 1001 to 2001 - 7-12.
- More than 2000 - 7-16.
Exceptions
Election districts and polling stations differ from each other on a territorial basis. The first are created exclusively in the Russian Federation. Polling stations can be formed outside the country, in places of temporary residence of citizens, remote and inaccessible areas, in military units, on ships sailing on election day, at polar stations. Territories for expressing the will of the population are created in foreign states during elections to state authorities by the leadership of diplomatic missions or consulates. In this case, the requirement for the maximum number of voting citizens may not apply. In areas of temporary residence (in sanatoriums, hospitals, rest homes, etc.), in remote, inaccessible areas, on ships in sailing, as well as at polar stations, the formation of polling stations is carried out no later than 5 days before the date of voting.
Classification
It exists only for counties. Separation is carried out depending on the number of persons for whom a vote is being taken. Thus, constituencies can be multi- and single-member. In addition, the classification is carried out according to the principle that underlies their creation. According to this criterion, districts are divided into administrative-territorial and territorial. There is an additional separation of the electoral system used. It can be majority, proportional, mixed.
Characteristic
A single-member district is a district in which one deputy is elected. Such territories are created by voting on a majority system. The single-member district will always be the district in which the voting for the president or official of the Moscow Region takes place. Several candidates may be put to a vote. In this case, the district will be multi-member. The ballot paper contains several names, opposite which the citizen puts a sign (tick) in the square. Elections are also held according to the majority system. The difference is that a citizen has as many votes as there are candidates on the ballot.
Creation Rules
Election districts are formed in accordance with the data on the number of citizens registered in the territory. Their scheme is determined no later than 80 days before the start of voting. It identifies their borders, provides a list of administrative-territorial units (municipalities, settlements) included in each district. If these areas are only partly included, this should be indicated in the diagram. In addition, the number of each constituency, the location of the commissions, or only the one that is entrusted with the main powers, as well as the number of voters, shall be indicated. The representative municipal / state body approves the scheme no later than 20 days before the end of the voting deadline. Moreover, he has the right to make adjustments to the scheme.
Election districts and polling stations of Moscow and the Moscow region
Their scheme is approved by the decision of the regional Duma. In 2016, amendments were introduced to the normative act adopted in 2015. Some addresses of polling stations have been adjusted. The Krasnogorsk constituency 120, for example, included the eponymous municipal district. In addition, it included the Istra MP with urban and rural settlements, such as Dedovsk, Istra, Pavlo-Slobodskoye, Obushkovskoye, Ivanovo. The constituencies and polling stations in Moscow were not so diverse. The first, as a rule, coincide territorially with AO. For example, the constituency of polling station No. 58 is located in the Central Administrative District, at 18 Krasnoselsky per.
Voting in 2016 in Abkhazia
On the territory of the Republic, 9 sites were formed. They were located in cities such as Sukhum, Gagra, Pitsunda, Gudauta, Ochamchira, Tkuarchal, Gal, as well as in the village of Bambora. At the same time, some voting places were assigned to the regions of the Russian Federation. So, for example, polling stations in the Daursky single-mandate constituency covered citizens who were territorially located within cities such as Gal, Tkuarchal, Ochamchira, and the same districts.
Primary requirements
When constituencies are formed, certain conditions must be met. Among them should be noted:
- Compliance with the approximate equality of single-member districts in the number of voters with an acceptable deviation from the average norm is not more than 10%, in remote, inaccessible areas - not more than 30%. A different rule is provided for the second category of territories. When forming multi-member districts, approximate equality of voters for 1 mandate is observed. In this case, the permissible deviations are determined. They are established - no more than 10% of the average norm, multiplied by the number of mandates in a given district. For hard-to-reach, remote areas, this figure increases to 15%.
- When creating districts in areas of compact residence of small indigenous peoples, the permissible deviation may be higher than the limit specified in the legislation. Moreover, the indicator should not be more than 40%.
- The constituency is formed on a single territory. Its creation is unacceptable in areas not bordering each other. The exception is enclave territories.
Subject to the last paragraph, the administrative structure of the region or the Moscow Region is taken into account. The list of remote, inaccessible areas is determined by the legislation of the subject, which entered into force before the date of the official publication of the decision on the appointment of voting.
Special cases
The above requirements may not be fulfilled if elections are scheduled for federal bodies of state power, other state structures, and the legislation provides for the mandatory formation of at least 1 constituency within the borders of each region of the Russian Federation. However, the provisions of the first sentence may not be implemented. In particular, this is allowed when forming within a joint-stock company included in another region of the Russian Federation, one electoral single-member constituency, which includes the specified joint-stock company in full during the election of deputies of the representative (legislative) body of state power of the subject. If the implementation of the provisions of the first sentence entails the creation of a territory for voting, which will include parts of more than one MO, a deviation from the average norm of no more than 20% is allowed. A similar rule applies in cases where there is a likelihood of a constituency forming, which includes the area of one / several municipalities and part of another municipality. This provision refers to the creation of territories for voting when choosing deputies of the representative (legislative) institute of state power in the region.
Additionally
The publication (publication) of the circuit of districts, including their graphic representation, is assigned to the corresponding representative body of the state / municipal authority, the election commission responsible for organizing the elections. It is carried out no later than 5 days after approval. In the formation of multi-member districts, the number of mandates to be distributed in it should not exceed 5. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. The restriction does not apply when calling for elections to territorial authorities of another municipality in a constituency formed within a polling station.
Conclusion
In general, the system of forming constituencies and polling stations is quite simple. When creating territories for voting, authorized structures are guided primarily by the administrative division existing in the country. In addition, the number of citizens living in a particular area is taken into account. Polling stations are always smaller than counties. They can be created not only directly on the territory of the Russian Federation, but also abroad.
It is also allowed to form sections on ships that are sailing (they are included in the districts at the place of registration of the ship). Voting is also conducted in military units, at polar stations. These polling stations are included in the constituencies at their location. When organizing elections, the authorized bodies set the task to cover as many of the population as possible. In order for voters to know where they should exercise their right, site layouts are published. Voting abroad is organized in the territory of diplomatic missions and consulates.