Penza, 18 September 2016. PenzaNews. Observers of the Group “For fair elections” found violations at polling station No. 168 in school No. 46, Rossiyskaya Street, Penza: the voting booths had pencils instead of pens, the regional coordinator of the Group “For fair elections” Andrey Glukhov.

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“The observer appealed to CEC members [...]. In 20 minutes, the situation was corrected,” the agency interlocutor explained.

Responding to a question about what happens to those ballots filled in with pencils, Andrey Glukhov noted that they have to wait till the polling station closes.

“It will become clear during the vote count. Our observers are closely following the situation,” the regional coordinator of the organization assured.

According to him, no other serious violations were registered in the Penza region as of 15.00, September 18.

On September 18, in addition to the State Duma elections, the region holds by-elections of deputies of the Penza City Council in the 17 th and 19 th single-member districts, the election of representatives of the Assembly of Deputies in Kamenka and Serdobsk areas, as well as deputy elections to the local authorities in 19 areas.

During State Duma elections each voter receives two ballots — the federal and single-mandate constituencies. In the first case one may vote for one of 14 parties registered by the CEC. In the second ballot, the voter gives preference to a particular candidate.
“Against all” box is not presented in both ballots. It was abolished in all types of elections in 2006, but then returned during municipal elections in 2014.

The elections will be considered valid with any turnout. In the Penza region it has traditionally been higher than the average in Russia. So, 13 years ago, the turnout in the region during parliamentary elections it was more than 57%, in 2007 about 70%, and in 2011 almost 65%.

According to the election committee of the Penza region, as of 15.00 the voter turnout amounted to 41.6%.