§ Article 65(untitled)

arly Voting
(as amended by the Federal Law of May 31, 2010, No.112-FZ)

 1. In cases and in the order established by the law a corresponding commission is
entitled to permit early (but not earlier than 15 days prior to the voting day) voting of all voters,
referendum participants in one or several election precincts, referendum precincts formed in
hard-to-reach and remote places, on ships at sea on the voting day, at polar stations. In cases
and in the order established by the law a corresponding commission is entitled to permit early
voting within several days (but not earlier than 15 days prior to the voting day) of voters,
referendum participants located in places remote from polling station with limited or lack
transportation connections (in hard-to-reach and remote places, at polar stations and similar
places), where early voting in election precinct, referendum precinct within one day is
impossible to be conducted. In cases and in the order established by federal law, at election to
federal bodies of state power, referendum of the Russian Federation the Central Election
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Commission of the Russian Federation is entitled to permit early (but not earlier than 15 days
prior to the voting day) voting of all voters, referendum participants in one or several election
precincts, referendum precincts formed outside the territory of the Russian Federation, and (or)
voting of groups of voters, referendum participants residing outside the territory of the Russian
Federation. At election to federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of the subjects of
the Russian Federation, bodies of local self-government, at referendum of the Russian
Federation, early voting upon other reasons except provided for by this Clause, and in the order
similar to the order established in Clauses 2-9 of this Article, is not conducted.

 2. At referendum of the subject of the Russian Federation, local referendum, unless the
law establishes voting by absentee ballots, referendum participant who on the voting day
reasonably (vacation, business trip, work or education, performance of state or public duties) is
absent at his place of residence and cannot arrive to polling station at referendum precinct
where he is included in the list of referendum participants, shall be provided with an opportunity
to vote early by filling in a ballot in the premises of corresponding territorial commission, election
commission of municipal formation (15-4 days prior to the voting day) or precinct commission
(not earlier than in three days prior to the voting day). If the voting day at referendum of the
subject of the Russian Federation, local referendum coincides with the voting day at election,
referendum of the Russian Federation and the law establishes voting by absentee certificated,
a referendum participant may vote early (but not earlier than 15 days prior to the voting day) in
the premises of the commission that issues absentee certificates. Referendum participant who
votes early shall submit an application with the reason for early voting to corresponding
commission. This application shall be attached to the list of early voted referendum participants.
The commission shall ensure the secrecy of voting, prevent any possibility of the will of
referendum participant being distorted, arrange for safety of the ballot and ensure that the vote
cast by referendum participant will be counted when voting results are established. Commission
is entitled to check the reason for early voting stated in application of referendum participant
and it such reason is not verified, to refuse issuing of a ballot.

 3. If referendum participant votes in the premises of the territorial commission, election
commission of municipal formation, signatures of two members of corresponding commission
certified by the commission's seal shall be put in the upper right corner on the face of the ballot
issued to him. The territorial commission, election commission of municipal formation shall
compile a list of referendum participants who voted early. This list together with ballot of
referendum participants who voted early shall be submitted to precinct election commission that
continues preparing such list for corresponding precinct. If early voting is conducted only in the
premises of precinct commission, the list of referendum participants who voted early shall be
prepared by precinct commission. The list of referendum participants who voted early shall be
attached to the list of referendum participants.

 4. A ballot marked by referendum participant voting early shall be put by referendum
participant into an envelope and the envelope shall then be sealed. Two voting members of,
respectively, territorial commission, election commission of municipal formation or precinct
commission and non-voting members of the commission, observes (upon their wish) shall put
their signatures on the envelope seam. The said signatures shall be certified by the seal of
corresponding commission.

 5. The sealed envelope with ballots shall be kept by the secretary of corresponding
commission in the premises of territorial commission, election commission of municipal
formation until the time when all ballots are delivered to precinct commissions, and in the
premises of precinct commission, until the voting day.

 6. Immediately after receipt of ballots by precinct commission, it shall make a note
“Voted early” in the list of referendum participants opposite the surnames of referendum
participants who voted early in the premises of territorial commission, election commission of
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municipal formation. If referendum participant votes early in the premises of precinct
commission, such note is made in the list of referendum participants at issuing of a ballot.

 7. On the voting day, the chairman of precinct commission upon verifying the readiness
of the technological vote counting equipment and turning it into voting mode (if such equipment
is used) and official opening of polling station in the presence of members of precinct
commission, observers, other persons referred to in Clause 3, Article 30 of this Federal Law,
before the commencement of voting shall inform on total number of referendum participants
who voted early, including in the premises of territorial commission, election commission of
municipal formation, presents sealed envelopes with ballots for visual inspection and the list of
referendum participants who voted early. After that the chairman of precinct commission shall
open envelopes one by one.

 8. If the number of referendum participants who voted early is more than one percent of
the number of referendum participants included in the list of referendum participants for
referendum precinct (but not less than ten referendum participants), the ballots of referendum
participants who voted early shall be stamped on the back with the seal of precinct commission
immediately after the ballots are taken out of the envelopes.

 9. After the performance of actions described in Clauses 7 and 8 of this Article, the
chairman of precinct commission shall, while observing the secrecy of the expression of the
referendum participants' will, drop the ballots into a stationary ballot box or a technological vote
counting equipment (if such equipment is used). If an envelope does not bear the required
marks provided for by Clause 4 of this Article, or more than one ballot of the standard form
established for voting at referendum with regards to corresponding referendum question is
taken out of the envelope, all ballots taken out of this envelope are recognized as invalid and a
corresponding statement is made. A note stating the reasons for recognizing a ballot invalid,
certified by signatures of two voting members of precinct commission and a seal of precinct
commission, shall be made on the face of each ballot in the boxes located to the right of options
“Yes” and “no” (“For” and “Against”).
.