Penza, 18 September 2016. PenzaNews. A large number of residents of Penza at the polls reflects the desire of citizens to participate in the future of their country. Such an opinion was expressed by Mayor Victor Kuvaytsev, who came to the polls with his wife Olga, her sister Natalia, and older granddaughter Sofia.

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“Today is a significant event. Judging by the number of our citizens at the polling stations, people approached this day, this event with great responsibility,” he told reporters.

Victor Kuvaytsev reminded that Penza residents choose not only the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

“Today we have two district-elections to the City Duma. The significance of our representative body in the development of the city is also very high, people understand that,” the mayor said.

“To be honest, I am in a good mood because, as shown by our residents, they feel for the future of the country, the city, for their children. It is great,” the head of Penza administration noted.

Victor Kuvaytsev approached the ballot box together with his granddaughter Sofia, with whom he shared one of the ballots. She put the ballot first, and then the second sheet was put down by the mayor.

After that, the head of Penza administration and his family went to the fair organized for the festival “Goodbye, summer! Hello, school!”

As PenzaNews reported earlier, 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, the turnout at noon — 25.3%.