Two weeks later, on June 25, 2020, a nationwide vote will start on the issue of approving amendments to the Constitution of the country. The process of expression of will will take place over several days, until July 1 inclusive. This decision was made to minimize the risk of infection with COVID-19 at polling stations.
According to the presidential decree, July 1 was determined as the date of the voting, which was declared a day off on the whole territory of Russia. Sites on this day will be open from 8 to 20 hours local time.
According to the head of the social committee of the Federation Council, Inna Svyatenko, Russian citizens who will work on July 1 will receive an increased payment, and the rest of the Russians will keep their salary for that day.
At the same time, as reported by the Central Election Commission, voting participants can cast their vote in advance (from June 25 to 30) in the premises of the precinct election commission. It is also possible to vote outside the polling station at the place of registration.
“During this period, according to the decision of the election commission of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, voting can be organized for groups of voters in territories and places suitable for voting equipment (in the adjoining territories, in public areas and elsewhere),” the press explained -CEC service.
In addition, the Russians have the right to change the place of voting by submitting an application by June 21 through the State Services Portal (EPGU), to the IFC, a territorial or precinct election commission. As of the morning of June 11, more than 240 thousand people have already sent such statements.
For those Russians who, for one reason or another, will not be able to visit the polling station, it is possible to vote non-contact at home. This can be done from June 25 to July 1 (members of the commission will come to the citizen’s home with a portable ballot box).
“To vote at home, you must submit a written application or oral appeal to the relevant precinct commission. At the same time, the application can be submitted by both the voting participant himself and another person: a relative or a representative of social services, ”the CEC said.
“An application for voting outside the polling station may be submitted before 2:00 p.m. Moscow time on June 21 through the EPPU portal. From June 16 to 17:00 on July 1, you can submit a corresponding application to your precinct commission, ”the Central Election Commission press service added.
Residents of two regions - Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region - will be able to vote online. To do this, before 2:00 p.m. June 21, applicants need to submit an application on the State Services or on the site mos.ru for Muscovites (the CEC has already accepted more than 500 thousand such applications). Voting will be held on the portal 2020og.ru from 14:00 Moscow time on June 25 to 20:00 Moscow time on June 30.
- RIA News
- © Alexey Maishev
According to the head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, verification of documents at polling stations or when voting at home will be conducted contactlessly, but from a fairly close distance. She emphasized the need to maintain a sanitary distance of one and a half to two meters.
“We believe that this is a fundamentally important norm that a voter does not give his passport to the members of the commission, but at a distance from which he can see so that the members of the commission can examine all the data,” RIA Novosti quotes Pamfilov.
Earlier, Rospotrebnadzor published recommendations on voting. In particular, it is proposed to arrange a platform for expression of will in the open air at the entrance to the polling station, and next to it is a sanitary room with soap, water and napkins for participants and members of the commission. It is recommended to use a voting booth without a front curtain, a place should be equipped for the issuance of disposable masks, gloves and antiseptic agents.
Voters will have to answer “yes” or “no” to one question: “Do you approve changes to the Constitution of the Russian Federation?”. Among other things, the amendments include amendments to the powers of the prime minister and the chambers of parliament, a new procedure for the appointment of the government. The basic law will spell out a number of social norms, including indexation of pensions, and the concept of marriage will be enshrined exclusively as a union of a man and a woman. It is also proposed to provide an opportunity for the current or former president of Russia to run for the presidency. The full text of the proposed amendments can be found on the portal Constitution2020.rf.
According to the co-chair of the amendment working group, the head of the Federation Council on constitutional law and state building, Andrei Klishas, the CEC will not summarize the interim results of the vote. Results will be announced on time after July 1.
According to presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the head of state can appeal to the Russians about the proposed amendments to the Constitution before or after the vote: “If the president considers it necessary.”
At the same time, Peskov previously told reporters that Vladimir Putin is planning to take part in the vote personally, although he also has the right to cast his vote on one of seven days set for this.