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Article 20
 
Article 20. System and Status of Election Commissions, Referendum Commissions
1. The following election commissions, referendum commissions shall function in the Russian Federation:
the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation;
election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation;
election commissions of municipalities;
district election commissions;
territorial (raion, city, and other) election commissions;
precinct commissions.
2. In holdingWhen relevant referendums are held, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation, election commissions of municipalities, territorial election commissions shall act in the capacity of referendum commissions. Other election commissions may act as referendum commissions on the basis of the decision of the relevant higher election commissions in charge of the formation of election commissions that shall be made taken in the procedure provided for by Clause 9 of this article.
3. Commissions shall support ensure the implementation and protection of electoral rights and the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in a referendum, prepare for and conduct elections and referendums in the Russian Federation.
4. Commissions shall, within the scope of their competence, consider complaints grievances about violations of law that they receive in the course of the an election campaign or the a referendum campaign, check these complaints grievances and give written answers to the persons who submitted such grievances within five days but not later than the day preceding voting day; or immediately if such grievances are received on voting day or on the day which followsfollowing voting day. If the facts stated in such grievances complaints require additional verification, decisions thereon shall be taken within ten days. If a complaint indicates grievance states that a candidate, an electoral association, an electoral bloc, a referendum initiative group violated a law, such candidate, electoral association, electoral bloc, referendum initiative group or authorized representatives thereof shall be immediately notified of receipt of such complaint grievance and may provide explanations on the substance of the claimstatement.
5. Commissions shall be entitled to submit requests applications to law enforcement authorities, bodies of executive power for to carrying out the required investigations and check violations of law, the grounds of such applications may include complaints grievances described in Clause 4 of this article. The law enforcement authorities, bodies of executive power shall take measures to put an endcheck to the violations within five days, and In the event the submittalif an application was received five days or less before voting day, - not later than the day preceding voting day, and immediately if an application is received on voting day and the day following voting day and without delay inform the applying commission about the results of the actions measurestaken. If the facts stated in the submittal application require additional verification the said measures shall be taken within ten days.
6. Commissions shall inform voters, referendum participants about the time and the procedure for performance of electoral actions, actions connected with the preparation and conduct of a referendum, about the progress of the election campaign, the referendum campaign, and about candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs which nominated candidates, or lists of candidates.
7. Competence, powers and procedures for activities of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be set by this Federal Law, other federal laws. Competence, powers and procedures for activities of other commissions in the preparation and conduct of elections to elections of federal bodies of state power and a referendum of the Russian Federation shall be set by this Federal Law, other federal laws.
8. Competence, powers and procedures for activities of election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation, election commissions of municipalities, district election commissions, territorial and precinct commissions during the preparation and conduct of elections to elections of bodies of state power of subjects of the Russian Federation and bodies of local self-government, and referendums in subjects of the Russian Federation and local referendums shall be set forth by this Federal Law, the constitutions (charters), laws of subjects of the Russian Federation, and the charters of municipalities.
9. Combination of by commissions of’ powers related to theto prepareation and conduct of elections, referendums of various levels shall be allowed possible only on the basis of the decision of the commission organizing the election, the referendum on a certain territory, which decisionthat is taken shall be made on the basis of an application of a commission organizing the election, the referendum in a part of this territory. Combination by commissions of powers to prepare and conduct elections, referendums of the same level shall be effected allowedpossible on the basis of a decision of the commission organizing the elections, referendums.
10. Decisions of a higher commission made taken within its competence shall be binding upon lower commissions.
11. Decisions of a commission which conflicts with a law or which has beenwas taken by a commission in excess of its established competence shall be cancelled by a higher commission or or overruled by a cCourt. In this case, the higher commission shall be entitled to make a decision on the substance of the matter or forward the relevant documents for reconsideration by the commission a decision of which has beenwas revokedcancelled.
12. Within the limits of their competence, commissions shall be independent of bodies of state power and bodies of local self-government.
13. Decisions and other acts of commissions adopted within their competence shall be binding upon federal executive bodies of state power, executive bodies of state power of subjects of the Russian Federation, state institutions, bodies of local self-government, candidates, electoral associations, electoral blocs, public associations, organizations, officials, voters and referendum participants. No state registration shall be required for Decisions and other acts of commissions shall not be subject to state registration.
14. Financial support of activities of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall be effected out offrom the funds allocated for this purpose by the federal law on the federal budget for the relevant fiscal year. Financial support of activities of the election commission of a subject of the Russian Federation shall be effected out offrom the finds funds allocated for this purpose by the law of the subject of the Russian Federation on the budget of the subject of the Russian Federation for the relevant fiscal year and out offrom the funds from of the federal budget in accordance with the procedure and in the amount set by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within the limits of funds allocated for these such purposes by the federal law on the federal budget for the relevant fiscal year. Financial support of activities of the a municipality election commission of a municipality, a territorial commission functioning on a permanent basis and constituting a legal entity shall be effected out offrom funds from of the budget of the subject of the Russian Federation and/or the local budget within the limits of funds allocated for these such purposes by the law of the subject of the Russian Federation on the budget of the subject of the Russian Federation, and/or the regulatory act of the body of local self-government on the local budget for the relevant fiscal year.
15. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the election commissions of subjects of the Russian Federation, municipality election commissions, and territorial commissions shall submit reports on the expenditure of the funds allocated from the relevant budgets to support their activities, the conduct of elections and referendums in accordance with a the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
16. State bodies, bodies of local self-government, state and municipal institutions and their officials shall render assistance to commissions in the exercise of their powers; in particular, by providing them, free of charge, with necessary premises, including premises for safe keeping of electoral documents and referendum-related documents before such documents are handed over to an archives or destroyed upon expiry of safe keeping periods established by law, make arrangements for guarding the provided premises, rooms, and the said documents, and provide, free of charge, vehiclestransportation means, telecommunication means and technical equipment.
17. Organizations with a charter capital in which the state and/or municipality holds a stake exceeding 30 percent as of the day of the official publication of the decision to call the an election, or the official publication of the decision to call the a referendum, officials of such organization shall assist commissions in the exercise of their powers, in particular, by providing them transportationvehicles means, telecommunication means and technical equipment, office premises.
18. The state and municipal television and/or radio broadcasters, and/or editors editorial offices of state and municipal periodical print media shall provide commissions, free air time for information of voters, referendum participants, in accordance with the procedure established by this Federal Law, other laws,of voters, referendum participants as well as free space in print media for publication of the commissions’ decisions and acts, placement of other printed information. Related The expenditures of television and radio broadcasters and editors editorial offices of periodical print media are shjall be governed effected in accordance with theby procedure established by Clause 10, Article 50 of this Federal Law.
19. State bodies, bodies of local self-government, public associations, organizations of all forms of ownership, including television and/or radio broadcasters (hereinafter the "TV and radio broadcasting organizations"), editors editorial offices of periodical printed media, and officials of these bodies and organizations shall provide commissions with necessary information and materials, respond to applications of made by commissions within five days but not later than the day preceding voting day, and immediately if an application is made on the day preceding voting day and on voting day, immediately. Such The said information and materials shall be provided to commissions free of charge.