Russia, Moscow / Trend corr. R.Agayeva / Elections of the Russian State Duma (Russian Parliament) will be held after 50 days. "Some 97 polling stations will be opened in the country by 9 November. The polling stations will operate from 2 December from 8am to 8pm. The results of the elections will be calculated after the closure of the poling station in the province of Kaliningrad at 9pm. "The preliminary results, we expect, will be revealed the next day," Vladimir Churov, the Russian Election Commission's chairman said during a meeting with the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of Russian Azerbaijanis of Azerros, as well as with leaders and representatives of Azerbaijani public organizations and Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Russian Azerbaijanis.
Touching upon the parliamentary elections in Russia in 2007, Churov said the elections would be based on lists from parties. "In compliance with the law we will vote for certain candidates nominated by the party. So our vote is divided into two parts, the first for the favorite party the other for the candidate we prefer from the list of candidates," Churov said.
The voting paper envisages the names of candidates at a federal level, including three candidates and a list of three regional candidates, Churov said. Each party should represent its candidate in a pre-election campaign through the press, but it would be difficult as each party has from 300 to 600 candidates. The total number of candidates is 6,000.
The Russian Federation struggles against the bribing of voters. The government together with the Interior Ministry shot a special film demonstrating how voters should struggle against corruption. There will be special equipment for invalids in almost all constituencies. An agreement was signed between the Central Election Commission and RJD OJSC to open special polling stations in all the main railway stations, as well as polling stations for people without permanent places of residence and others.
Pre-election campaigns through the press will commence on 3 November. Voters will receive two invitations the first to come to the voting station to check their name is on the list 10 to 12 days before the election date and to one to vote.
Speaking about election legislation of the Russian Federation, Churov said one can vote using their Russian Federation passport, but the passport of the former Soviet Union can be used if it has an impress confirming citizenship of the Russian Federation and a document confirming the permanent residence in Russia. Citizens should change their Soviet Union passports by 1 January 2008. About 200,000 Russian citizens have not changed their Soviet passports yet.
Churov said they expect voters will be more active, approximately by 60%, which will be more compared to four years before.