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Metamorphosis of the electoral system

20 years ago , was created by the federal supreme body - the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. This is a conversation with George Mikhailovich Petrov , who worked Election Commission Chairman Yaroslavl from 1995 to 2002.

The starting point for the formation of the Russian electoral system were the first elections to the State Duma of the Russian Empire for more than 100 years ago - in 1906. In Soviet times, election authorities apparently were practically the same - the same election commissions , voting took place in the same public institutions.

After the change of the social formation 20 years ago , was created by the federal supreme body - the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. One can speculate why today celebrates 20th anniversary and where the " missing " 100 years of history. It is possible that central office , thus creates a separate "legend" and nothing s wrong there . But , of course, in the history of Russian elections fit and unique features like tsarist Russia and the Soviet period.

About how almost from the first days , the electoral system was created in the Yaroslavl region , knows Georgy Petrov, PhD, Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation. His whole life is connected with his native town : it was born , studied and realize their potential, become an authority in science, for many respected and for the principles at work. Yaroslavsky electoral commission chaired from 1995 to 2003 .

Getting started was professional rapid : in September 1995 there was a new election law , and in December already had elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation . You could say was the "godfather" of the current head of the electoral commission Yaroslavl Denis V. Vasilyev. It Petrov saw a graduate of the Law Faculty of YSU prospective employee.

- Count is the 20th anniversary of the creation of a good sense of the bureaucratic structure of the Central Election Commission . By the process of its creation were connected knowledge on the best electoral practices of the world , there your content , ideology, have given impetus to the development of many scientific minds and personalities . The entire methodology , practical, immediately tried out at the next election . During this period, very much has been achieved . Recently the President of Russia in a speech said that we have one of the most advanced electoral systems in the world. Changing legislation and practice , there are technical improvements ( Cohiba , video surveillance , etc. ) At the beginning of my work for each election laws updated , then it was understandable , much was new . But now, the frequency of these updates is not just disturbing , but already worried .

As a professional, I can say this dynamic is not good , as the election process itself , and to society as a whole - continues to Petrov . - Clearly lacking stability. Experiments with the electoral legislation have led to the fact that the basic law "On basic guarantees of electoral rights of citizens ... " for twenty years has increased in volume about ten times and details , if not all, almost everything. And as a result, it becomes more difficult to use , especially at the level of tens of thousands of precinct election commissions. And even the slightest deviation from the established algorithm can be grounds for appeal against the election results. One reason for this is that under the current rules electoral laws shall establish who has the main political interest - political parties , through their deputies in the legislature . Creators and consumers in one.

By its nature, the electoral commissions at all levels do not have a political interest and are designed to be completely neutral. The main thing for them - to ensure the electoral process in accordance with the letter of the law. However, the active participation of political parties in the formation of election commissions , the direction in which its representatives has significantly changed the situation. And it turns out that in deciding the election commissions are involved in most of the representatives of certain political forces. Before the chairmen of election commissions is much more complicated task . It lies in the fact that when making collective decisions commissions should not only be respected legal nuances , but also to the election commissions do not become a platform for political battles.

Observations Georgy Mikhailovich very valuable. From the height of his knowledge and experience he can clearly see the main " herd" of the system : to prevail was the ideology , not professionalism. As a result of this weakness of the system is the voter ? Sometimes random people in the legislative seats. Distrust of the system of election commissions heated political populism . I must say that on the firm belief gm Petrova Election Commission Yaroslavl region in the period of his work, and subsequently did not give reason to doubt her professionalism. This is evident even then that the commission was not lost any litigation . The exception is a dispute with E.Mizulinoy . During those years, she was a deputy chairman of the State Duma and in the election campaign , speaking on television, called on his supporters to vote for . From one of the parties complained . There was , in fact, the scientific debate : is it right to do it or not. This had in judicial practice was not. The court sided with the deputy. But soon it is this aspect was taken into consideration in the new election law .

- Are not uncommon when a loser , sometimes very significantly , candidate , categorically states that the elections were not fair , falsified , not legitimate (?) And immediately demands a recount . I think this is an insult to the thousands who faithfully carried out their work . I think that for such a thing ought to establish legal responsibility as an insult.

I remember that the representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party demanded my resignation for the fact that , in their opinion , scored fewer votes than desired . And now I see that the communists have asked the same in the 2013 election season . Such passages undermine the credibility of the elections , and in this respect we lag behind Europe : they lost the presidential election to the French candidate , literally , a couple of percent , he did not cry for a recount of votes, and congratulated the opponent. There is a desire to recommend loser read Russian classics, for example, IA Krylov.

Many of the changes in the electoral law introduced due to mistrust of the electoral commissions , and not with a view to strengthening the guarantees of the rights of members of the IR process , and taking into account their interests. But one of the latest innovations in the organization of the electoral process, I would like to note, in particular , as having fundamental importance. It is about strengthening the status of the chairmen of the territorial election commissions. Earlier, as a rule , the chairmanship of said election commissions were assigned to deputy heads of municipal administrations . From the point of view of the organization of the election commission that was to some extent justified. But they are directly subordinate to the heads of the regional and city authorities, who themselves regularly elected . In such a situation, was laid a lot of opportunities for the use of "administrative resources ." Now, thanks to the efforts of the Central Election Commission , the situation must change. Although the transition period may be some difficulties , but I think this is a very positive step.

Viktoria Sotscova