§ Article 21(untitled)

rocedure for Formation and Status of the Central Election Commission of
the Russian Federation

 1. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation is a federal state body
organizing preparation and conduct of elections, referenda in the Russian Federation in
accordance with its competence established by this Federal Law, other federal laws.

 2. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall operate on a
permanent basis and shall be a legal entity.

 3. The term of powers of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
shall be five years. If the term of powers of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation expires during an election campaign, during the period from the day when
referendum of the Russian Federation is called and till the end of referendum campaign
organized by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, its term of powers is
extended till the end of this election campaign, referendum campaign.*
(as amended by the Federal Law of June 4, 2010, No.117-FZ)

 4. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall consist of fifteen
members. Five members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall
be appointed by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation out of
candidates proposed by the factions, other associations of deputies of the State Duma of the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, or by individual deputies of the State Duma of the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Each association of deputies in the State Duma
of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation may appoint not more than one
representative. Five members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation
shall be appointed by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation out of the candidates nominated by the legislative (representative) bodies of state
power of the subjects of Russian Federation and higher officials of the subjects of the Russian
Federation (the heads of the high executive bodies of state power of the subjects of the
Russian Federation). Five members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation shall be appointed by the President of the Russian Federation.

 5. Members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall have
higher professional education.
(Clause 5 as amended by the Federal Law of January 30, 2007, No.6-FZ)

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* In accordance with Article 2 of the Federal Law of June 4, 2010, No.117-FZ “On Amendments
to the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the
Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum” in connection to change of terms of powers
of election commissions”, provisions of Clause 3, Article 21 of the Federal Law of June 12,
2002, No.67-FZ “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the
Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum” (as amended by this Federal Law), related
to terms of powers of election commissions, shall be applied with relation to corresponding
election commissions formed after this Federal Law came into force.
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 6. Members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall
organize work in specific areas of activity of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation defined by the Regulations of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation, and shall bear responsibility for the results of work in the said areas.

 7. Members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall elect
out of its members by secret balloting the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the
Russian Federation, the Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian
Federation and the Secretary of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

 8. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation is the election
commission organizing elections to federal bodies of state power, and the as a referendum
commission organizing referendums of the Russian Federation.

 9. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall:
 а) exercise control over the observance of the electoral rights of citizens of the Russian
Federation and the right of citizens to participate in a referendum;
 b) develop standard quotas for technological equipment (ballot booths, ballot boxes)
required for the work of commissions, approve these standard quotas, and exercise control
over observance thereof, and arrange for the placement of orders for manufacturing of such
technological equipment for the election to federal bodies of state power, referendum of the
Russian Federation;
(as amended by the Federal Law of July 21, 2005, No.93-FZ)
 c) ensure the implementation of measures related to preparation and conduct of
elections, referenda, improvement of the electoral system in the Russian Federation;
introduction, operation, and improvement of means of automation, legal education of voters,
professional training of commission members, and other individuals engaged in organization of
elections, referenda, publication of required printed materials;
 d) implement measures aimed at ensuring a uniform procedure for allocation of air time
and space in print media between registered candidates, election associations for the purposes
of election campaigning, between the referendum initiative group and other groups of
referendum participants for the purposes of campaigning on questions of the referendum,
establishment of results of voting, referenda, and the procedure of publication of the results of
voting and election, referenda, including information-telecommunication network “Internet”;
(as amended by the Federal Laws of July 21, 2005, No.93-FZ, of July 11, 2011, No.200-FZ)
 e) implement measures aimed at organization of funding of preparation and conduct of
elections, referenda; distribute the funds allocated out of the federal budget as financial support
of preparation and conduct of elections, referenda; control the proper use of the above funds;
 f) provide legal, methodological, organizational, and technical support to commissions;
 g) implement international cooperation in the field of electoral systems;
 h) hear the information of federal bodies of executive power, executive bodies of the
subjects of the Russian Federation and bodies of local self-government on issues related to
preparation and conduct of elections to federal bodies of state power and referenda of the
Russian Federation;
 i) set standards by which lists of voters, referendum participants and other election
documents and documents related to preparation and conduct of referenda are to be produced;
 j) consider complaints (appeals) related to decisions and actions (inaction) of
subordinate commissions and take reasonable decisions in connection to these complaints
(appeals);
 k) exercise other powers in accordance with this Federal Law, other federal laws.

 10. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall consider
complaints related to decisions and actions (inaction) of the election commissions of the
subjects of the Russian Federation and officials thereof that violate electoral rights of citizens
and the right of citizens to participate in referenda at elections to bodies of state power of the
CDL-REF(2012)008 - 32 -

subjects of the Russian Federation, referenda of subjects of the Russian Federation, elections
to bodies of local self-government, local referendums in accordance with Clause 7, Article 75 of
this Federal Law.

 11. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall, within the limits of
the funds allocated to it under the federal law on the federal budget for the next financial year in
accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, determine the amount of and set the
procedure for remuneration of workers of institutions and organizations established to support
its operation.

 12. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation together with election
commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation in cooperation with federal bodies of
executive power, bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies
of local self-government and officials of bodies of local self-government organizes the state
system of registration (account) voters, referendum participants and participates in registration
(account) of voters, referendum participants including formation and maintenance of register of
voters, referendum participants.
(Clause 12 as amended by the Federal Law of July 21, 2005, No.93-FZ)

 121 The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation together with election
commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation checks consolidated financial reports
and data on receipt and expenditure of funds of political parties, control over sources and
volume of property received by political parties as entry or member fees, donations of citizens
and legal entities, informs citizens on the results of such checks.
(Clause 121 introduced by the Federal Law of July 21, 2005, No.93-FZ)

 13. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, within the scope of its
competence, shall be entitled to issue binding instructions on issues related to the uniform
application of this Federal Law.

 14. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be entitled to
issue opinions on compliance of laws and other regulations of the subjects of the Russian
Federation with this Federal Law and other federal laws that govern the electoral rights of
citizens of the Russian Federation and their right to participate in a referendum.

 15. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall have its official
printed bulletin.