Penza, 18 September 2016. PenzaNews. Human rights activist Lyudmila Kolomytseva came to vote in the elections of deputies to the State Duma of Russia to polling station No. 36 in versatile college, Sobinova Street, Penza on Sunday, September 18.

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She came in high spirits. Upon receiving the ballots, Lyudmila Kolomytseva proceeded to the cabin, and then a few seconds later went straight to the ballot box. Her husband Anatoly did not accompany her, as he is an observer at the elections.

After that Lyudmila Kolomytseva gave a brief comment to journalists who were at the polling station.

Responding to a question about her mood, the human rights activist was terse: “Excellent.”

“I am sure that this time [the State Duma] structure will somewhat change,” Lyudmila Kolomytseva stressed, expressing hope that the lower house of parliament will have more public activists.

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%.