No. 19‐FZ of January 10, 2003 RUSSIAN FEDERATION FEDERAL LAW ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Adopted by the State Duma on December 24, 2002 Approved by the Council of Federation on December 27, 2002 (Federal Laws amended: No. 93-FZ as of July 21, 2005, No. 106-FZ as of July 12, 2006. No. 107-FZ as of July 12, 2006, No. 128-FZ as of July 25, 2006, No. 274-FZ as of December 30, 2006, No. 64-FZ as of April 26, 2007, No. 211-FZ as of July 24, 2007, No. 214-FZ as of July 24, 2007, No. 3-FZ as of February 09, 2009, No. 94-FZ as of May 12, 2009, No. 108-FZ as of June 03, 2009, No. 203-FZ as of July 19, 2009, No. 63-FZ as of April 22, 2010, No. 222-FZ as of July 27, 2010, No. 263-FZ as of October 04, 2010, No. 404-FZ as of December 28, 2010, No. 143-FZ as of June 14, 2011, No. 200-FZ as of July 11, 2011, No. 259-FZ as of July 23, 2011, No. 262-FZ as of July 25, 2011, as amended by Federal Laws No. 196-FZ as of July 19, 2009, No. 287-FZ as of October 20, 2011) Table of contents Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................................................4 Article 1. Basic Principles of Holding Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation........................4 Article 2. Laws on the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation...............................................4 Article 3. Voting Rights of the Russian Federation Citizens at the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation................................................................................................................................4 Article 4. Federal Election District.........................................................................................................5 Article 5. Calling of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation.............................................5 Article 6. The Right to Nominate Candidates for President of the Russian Federation........................6 Article 7. Preparation and Holding the Elections of the Russian Federation President by Election Commissions .........................................................................................................................................6 Article 8. The Right to Election Canvassing ...........................................................................................6 Article 9. Financing of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation........................................7 Article 10. Transparency while Preparation and Holding of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation .............................................................................................................................................7 Chapter II. ELECTION COMMISSIONS............................................................................................................7 Article 12. The System and Status of Election Commissions at the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation................................................................................................................................7 Article 13. Procedure for Forming the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, Election Commissions of the Russian Federation Subjects...................................................................8 Article 14. Procedure for Forming Territorial Election Commissions ...................................................9 Article 15. Procedure for Forming Precinct Election Commissions.......................................................9 Article 16. Appointing Members of Election Commission with an Advisory Vote..............................10 Article 17. Organization of Election Commission Operation ..............................................................11 Article 18. Status of the Election Commission Members....................................................................11 Article 19. Authorities of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation .....................11 Article 20. Authorities of the Election Commission of the Russian Federation Subject .....................12 Article 21. Authorities of the Territorial Election Commission ...........................................................13 Article 22. Authorities of the Precinct Election Commission ..............................................................14 Article 23. Transparency in Election Commission Operation..............................................................15 Article 24. Foreign (International) Observers .....................................................................................16 Chapter III. POLLING STATIONS. VOTER LISTS.............................................................................................17 Article 25. Forming Polling Stations ....................................................................................................17 Article 26. Drawing Up Voter Lists ......................................................................................................18 Article 27. Procedure for Inclusion of the Citizens into and Their Exclusion from the Voter List.......19 Article 28. Introduction of the Voter Lists to the Voters ....................................................................21 Chapter IV. POLITICAL PARTIES ...................................................................................................................21 Article 29. Participation of Political Parties in the Russian Federation Presidential Elections ...........21 Article 30. Declared void. — Federal Law No. 93‐FZ of July 21, 2005.................................................21 Article 31. Name of the Political Party ................................................................................................21 Article 32. Authorized Representatives of the Political Party.............................................................22 Article 33. Equal Rights of Political Parties at the Russian Federation Presidential Elections............22 Chapter V. NOMINATION AND REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES................................................................22 Article 34. Self‐nomination of a candidate .........................................................................................22 Article 35. Nomination of a candidate by a political party .................................................................25 Article 36. Support of nomination of a candidate...............................................................................27 Article 37. Submission of the electoral documents for registration of the candidate........................28 Article 38. Verification of Compliance with the Requirements of this Federal Law when Nominating Candidates...........................................................................................................................................29 Article 39. Registration of the Candidate............................................................................................32 Chapter VI. STATUS OF CANDIDATES ..........................................................................................................34 Article 40. Ensuring Equal Status of Candidates .................................................................................34 Article 41. Restrictions Due to Office or Position................................................................................34 Article 42. Guarantees for a Candidate’s Activity ...............................................................................35 Article 43. Agents of Candidates and Political Parties ........................................................................36 Article 44. Withdrawal of a Candidate................................................................................................36 Chapter VII. KEEPING VOTERS INFORMED AND ELECTION CAMPAIGNING................................................37 Article 45. Information Support of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation.............37 Article 46. Keeping Voters Informed...................................................................................................37 Article 47. Public Opinion Polls ...........................................................................................................38 Article 48. TV and Radio Broadcasting Organizations and Printed Periodicals Used for Information Support of the Election of the President of the Russian Federation ..................................................38 Article 49. Election Campaigning ........................................................................................................39 Article 50. Campaigning Period...........................................................................................................41 Article 51. General Terms and Conditions for Election Campaigning on the Channels of TV and Radio Broadcasting Organizations and in the Printed Periodicals ................................................................41 Article 52. Provisions for TV and Radio Election Campaigning ...........................................................43 Article 53. Terms and Conditions for Election Campaigning in Printed Periodicals............................45 Article 54. Terms and Conditions for Election Campaigning by Public Campaigning Events..............47 Article 55. Terms and Conditions for Production and Distribution of Printed, Audio and Visual and Other Campaigning Materials .............................................................................................................48