Actors and participants of electoral observation

The word "observer" is often used broadly to refer to different categories of observer participants.

For civil society needs, these categories are:

• Commissioner with a decisive vote
• Commissioner with a consultative vote
• An observer
• Proxy
• Media representative

Formally, the term "observer" refers to one specific status of observation participants, whose appointment procedure is established in Article 30 of the Federal Law of 12.06.2002 No. 67-FZ "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of the Citizens of the Russian Federation".  

 

Commissioners with a decisive vote

Officially the status is named "a member of the electoral commission with a decisive vote". Up to the end of 2012, the commissions had been created ad hoc for particular elections. Since 2013, the members have been appointed for 5 years with a complicated system of nominations, filters and preferences for administrative representatives and parliamentary parties.  

Pros:

• The right to observe at any polling station during given elections
• The right to observe in any region  
• The right of full access to all commission documentation
• The right to vote on commission decisions

Cons:

• Complicated and restrictive system of nomination and appointment for 5 years term

 

Commissioner with a consultative vote

Officially: "a commission member with the right to a consultative vote". It had been the most popular status for civil society observers until its liquidation in 2022.

The Appointed by the candidate or party for the campaign. The rights of such a member are equal to the rights of a full member.

Pros:

• The right to observe at any polling station during given elections
• The right to observe in any region  
• Right of full access to all commission documentation

Cons:

• None

 

Observer

Appointed by the candidate or party for the campaign

Pros:

• Right to observe stationary and mobile ballot-box voting
• Right to observe the counting procedures
• Right to file an official complaint

Cons:

• Accreditation only to one PEC
• Accreditation in 3 days in advance
• Permanent residence in the region of the observed elections
• Limitation on access to the commission's documents

 

Proxy

The law explicitly states that a proxy doesn't enjoy the rights of an observer, but since the proxies are close in their rights to the candidates, they can technically observe except for mobile ballot-box voting.

Pros:

• Right to observe stationary ballot-box voting

Cons:

• Limitation on number (e.g. 3 proxies per candidate in Municipal elections in Moscow)
• No access to documents
• No right of complaint

 

Media representative

The status used to be the most preferable for independent civil society activists. It provides complete independence from contestants of the elections and governmental institutions. However, due to growing restrictions and bureaucratic requirements, the status has been losing popularity since 2016.

Pros:

• Complete independence from governmental, administrative and political participants in the elections
• Right to observe stationary ballot-box voting
• Right to observe counting procedures
• The right  to observe any polling station
• The right to observe in any region disregarding the permanent residence of the mass media representative

Cons:

• Complicated and restrictive system of accreditation