Home > 1.6 Frequency of elections > RUSSIAN FEDERATION - Federal Law on Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation
 
 
 
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Article 5
 

1. Holding the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation within the terms set by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and this Federal Law shall be mandatory. In accordance with Federal Law No. 196-FZ of July 19, 2009 from the date of the official publication of the results of the nearest presidential elections in the Russian Federation called after the effective date of the stated Federal Law the words “four years” in article 5, clause 2 shall be replaced by the words “six years”. The date of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation has been set on March 4, 2012 by Decree of the SF (Council of Federation) of the FS (Federal Assembly) No. 442-SF of the RF of November 25, 2011. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation shall not later than ten days after the voting date define the results of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation (article 76, clause 1 of Federal Law No. 19- FZ of January 10, 2003). Official publication of the results of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation shall be performed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation within three days from the date of signing by the commission of the report on the results of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation (article 79, part 4 of Federal Law No. 19-FZ of January 10, 2003).


2. In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation shall be called by the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Decision on calling the elections shall be made not earlier than 100 days and not later 90 days before the voting date. The voting date at the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation shall be the second Sunday of the month in which the voting was held at the previous general elections of the Russian Federation President and in which the Russian Federation President was elected four years ago. The decision on calling the elections shall be subject to official publication in the mass media not later than five days after making thereof.


3. If the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation does not call the elections of the Russian Federation President in accordance with clause 2 of this article the elections shall be called and held by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on the second Sunday of the month in which voting was held at the previous general elections of the Russian Federation President. The decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on calling the elections shall be published not later than seven days after the expiration date of the term of official publication of the decision on calling the elections. (as amended by the Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)


4. If the Russian Federation President terminates exercising his authorities before expiration of the constitutional term in cases and within the procedure provided by the Russian Federation Constitution the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation shall not later than 14 days after such termination of authorities call the early elections of the Russian Federation President. In this case the voting date shall be the last Sunday before the day when three months expire from the date of early termination of the authorities of the Russian Federation President. The decision on calling the early elections shall be subject to official publication in the mass media not later than five days after making thereof.


5. If the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation does not call early elections of the Russian Federation President, in accordance with clause 4 of this article the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation shall be called and held by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on he last Sunday before the day on which the three months expire from the date of early termination of the authorities of the Russian Federation President. The decision of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation on calling the elections shall be published not later than seven days from the expiration date of the term of publication of the decision on calling the early elections set by clause 4 of this article. (as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005)


6. In cases provided by clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this article the terms of performing election activities set hereby shall be reduced by one quarter. In this regard the terms in days shall be multiplied by three quarters and rounded off to the nearest whole number; if multiplication results in the figure the fractional part of which is equal to a half of the whole number it is rounded upward. (clause 6 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005).


7. If the Sunday, on which holding of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation is set, coincides with the day preceding the holiday day off or with a holiday day off or with the day following the holiday day off or this Sunday is within the set procedure declared a working day, the elections shall be set on the preceding Sunday. (clause 7 as amended by Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005).


8. If within the period when the bodies stated in clauses 2—5 shall make a decision on calling the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation the emergency situation or the martial law has been declared within the whole Russian Federation territory, the voting date for the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation shall be the first or the second Sunday upon expiration of three months after cancellation of the emergency situation or the martial law.