Today, April 18, the Parliament of the Holy See in the first reading approved amendments to the Electoral Code, which, inter alia, provides for the right of the Moscow Public Chamber to appoint observers at polling stations during the elections to the mayor, deputies of the Moscow City Duma and local self-government bodies. The bill was introduced on a priority basis by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Among the initiatives of the document is an increase in the number of trusted persons nominated by a candidate for the post of capital mayor to 500 people. It is also envisaged to extend the time limits of the election day by prolonging the voting until 22:00. "The bill proposes to consolidate the right of the Public Chamber of Moscow to appoint its observers at polling stations," said the chairman of the City Duma, Valentin Gorbunov. He noted that the last presidential elections were not without the observers of the chamber. This, according to Gorbunov, "contributed to greater openness and transparency of the voting procedure, and the counting of votes". "The participation of observers from the Public Chamber, who were not engaged by any candidate, showed that they were most objectively and competently trained. They do not defend the political interests of candidates, "Gorbunov stressed.. It is about establishing additional guarantees for the implementation of the electoral rights of citizens, as well as ensuring transparency and openness of electoral commissions in elections to the bodies of state authority and local self-government of the city's municipalities. In turn, the chairman of the Moscow City Duma Alexei Shaposhnikov noted the great importance of the amendment, which gives the right to the Public Chamber to appoint observers in regional elections to election commissions. "Of particular importance is the innovation relating to the consolidation of the right of the Public Chamber of Moscow to appoint observers in regional elections to election commissions operating on the territory of our city. That is, now the volunteers of the Public Chamber will receive official observer status.

Incidentally, it was with this initiative that the Public HQ for monitoring the presidential elections in Moscow at its meeting on summarizing the results of its work, "Shaposhnikov summarized, noting the positive experience of the past election campaign, which, in his opinion, is important to extend to regional elections. Speaker of the Moscow parliament also pointed to another important innovation. It concerns the consolidation of the rights of the Public Chamber. This refers to the appointment of observers to election commissions at regional elections. "Now the volunteers of the Public Chamber of Moscow will receive the official status of observers. By the way, it was with such an initiative that the Public Headquarters on monitoring the presidential elections in Moscow at its meeting on summarizing the results of the work, "assured the lawmaker. In Moscow, a colossal experience of impartial observation of the elections. The Moscow standard of fair elections has been formed, which includes the following components: 100% coverage of polling stations with video cameras, the image of which is broadcast in real time on the Internet on the website vybory. mos. ru;.

application of cloud-based video surveillance technology; created on the basis of the Public Chamber of Moscow Public HQ on election observation; involvement of public organizations, political parties and volunteers in the control of the electoral process; minimization of absentee ballots and home voting;.

eliminating the practice of removal from sites of observers and media representatives. Recall, in the presidential election on March 18, 2018 volunteers corps of observers of the OP completely coped with its task. At that time, almost three and a half thousand observers of the chamber left the metropolitan areas. Thus, it was possible to cover almost 100% of polling stations. "They showed themselves very actively, faithfully ensuring the transparency of the vote itself and the openness of the counting of votes. It is important that they did not represent a specific candidate or political party, but independent observers who defended the interests of voters were independent, "Shaposhnikov stressed.. Earlier it was reported that the amendments granting the regional OPs with the same powers were introduced to the State Duma in March, but they have not yet been adopted.

In this respect, the capital is at the forefront of introducing federal legislative initiatives aimed at creating additional guarantees for the implementation of electoral rights of citizens, and contributing to greater openness and transparency in the conduct of elections. It is expected that in the final reading of the amendments will be adopted and will enter into force before the upcoming campaign for the election of the mayor of Moscow. The voting for candidates for the main post in the Russian capital will take place on a single voting day on September 9, 2018.