Home > 1.3 Free suffrage > RUSSIAN FEDERATION - Federal Law on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum
 
 
 
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Article 3
 

1. A citizen of the Russian Federation shall participate in elections on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage with secret ballot.


2. A citizen of the Russian Federation shall participate in a referendum on the basis of universal, equal and direct expression of will by secret ballot.


3. Participation of a citizen of the Russian Federation in elections and referendums shall be free and voluntary. No one shall compel a citizen of the Russian Federation to participate or not to participate in elections and referendums or shall prevent free expression of his will.


4. A citizen of the Russian Federation residing abroad shall have all electoral rights at elections of federal bodies of state power and the full right to participate in a referendum. Diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation shall render assistance to citizens of the Russian Federation in the implementation of their electoral rights at elections of federal bodies of state power and the right to participate in a referendum of the Russian Federation established by this Federal Law or other federal laws.


5. When preparing and holding elections, a referendum, counting votes and determining vote returns, establishing election results, referendum results election commissions, referendum commissions shall act openly and publicly.


6. Foreign citizens, except as otherwise provided in Section 10, Article 4 of this Federal Law, stateless persons, foreign companies shall not engage in activities which help or impede the nomination of candidates (lists of candidates), election of registered candidates, an initiative of holding a referendum, conduct of a referendum, and achievement of a certain result at an election or a referendum. (in the version of Federal Law of July 21, 2005, # 93-FZ).


7. Elections and referendums shall be organized and conducted by commissions. Interference in the operation of such commissions by legislative (representative) or executive bodies of state power, bodies of local selfgovernment, any organizations, officials, or any other persons shall not be allowed.