Municipal elections

Municipal elections are those elections in which citizens cast their votes for candidates for representative bodies and for the head of a municipal formation. They will occupy leading posts during the period established by law. The concept of a municipal formation includes a territory that unites several settlements and is managed by one local government, which has one local budget.

The main regulation of these elections is made by federal legislation, and details are specified by laws on local self-government, as well as other charters of local government.

The municipal elections are subject to the same principles as for elections that take place at the level of the Federation. All citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. Foreigners can also vote, provided that they live on the territory of the municipality constantly and in a timely manner pay taxes. Also, all residents aged 18 to 21 can themselves be elected deputies to the representative bodies of the municipality or to an elected office. Those citizens whom the court has found insane or those who are in custody can not vote in elections.

Municipal elections in our country are always direct. This means that the citizens themselves, and not the bodies representing their interests, vote for candidacies for the post, for example, the mayor. Voting, as during other elections, is held secretly, that is, no one can control who the voter voted for.

Municipal elections are characterized by periodicity and compulsion. Periodicity is manifested by the prohibition of electing indefinitely, and binding - by prohibiting the appointment of other elected bodies (with the exception of small settlements).

In Russia, municipal elections are alternative, that is, there should be several candidates for one seat. Also, all citizens are free in their decision to participate in elections or not.

After the date of the upcoming elections is appointed and announced, lists, polling stations, commissions and districts are created. All candidates run for certain constituencies. The number of candidates must be more than the required number of deputies, otherwise elections can not be considered alternative.

Each polling station (polling station) should be designed for no more than 3000 people and is located, for example, in a school or other public place. Naturally, the boundaries of the site can not go beyond the boundaries of the district. All these rules are fixed in the legislation.

Election commissions are formed together with the creation of polling stations and districts. They are responsible for preparing for the elections and for holding them themselves. Commissions are created several: precinct, district and one territorial.

The compilation of voter lists takes place simultaneously with the creation of commissions. The head of the local administration makes them, but the election commission verifies and approves them. After that, the lists must necessarily be made public.

During congresses or meetings, parties nominate candidates and report their decision to the election commission to register their representatives. Only from this moment can agitation begin. It can be conducted both by the candidate himself and by the party that nominated him, or even the voter.

The voter marks the candidate or candidate list in the ballot. In Russia, the majority electoral system is used, according to which the one who gained the most votes wins.

There are cases when elections can not be considered valid. Then the date of the repeated elections is established, during which other candidates can be nominated. This distinguishes them from a repeat vote, in which the composition of candidates does not change.