Chairwoman of the St Petersburg Election Commission informed observers about the voting progress

Observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization who arrived in St Petersburg last night as part of international monitoring of the election to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, met in the morning with Natalia Chechina, Chairwoman of the St Petersburg City Election Commission.
Natalia Chechina briefed CSTO PA observers on the situation during the election campaign and after the first day of voting. “One of our main tasks is observer training,” she recalled, informing that due to the region’s specificity there are, among others, 7 election commissions working at polar stations and 4 on submarines with crews performing their tasks. The total number of registered voters is 3,868,841; 15,986,800 ballots have been prepared: in addition to the election to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the city also holds the election to the St Petersburg Legislative Assembly.
According to Natalia Chechina, to ensure transparency of voting and vote counting, 1785 precinct election commissions of St Petersburg are equipped with video monitoring systems operating 24 hours a day, including the night hours when the members of the election commissions and observers go home. During this time, cameras work in the infrared range and record everything, despite the lights being off. Safes with printed ballots are under 24-hour surveillance.
The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation did not include St Petersburg in the number of pilot regions for electronic voting in the election to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the St Petersburg Legislative Assembly. The City Election Commission and precinct commissions adopted and strictly observe anti-covid recommendations: social distancing is enforced and each voter is given a set of a disposable mask, gloves and a pen at the entrance to the polling station. Polling stations are equipped with disinfectants.
As for the voting process itself, 6546 observers are present at the polling stations, 352 ballot paper processing systems are in operation, and the turnout of the first day of voting was 12%.
On the first day of voting the City Election Commission received one complaint from observers from the Central District of St Petersburg, but according to Natalya Chechina, it was quickly dealt with by a fast response group specifically organized by the St Petersburg Election Commission for that purpose.
In turn, observers noted the absence of protesters or street provocations in the city.
“We see information pressure on the Election Commission from opposition parties in the city,” said Natalya Chechina stressing that she herself is nonpartisan.
Right after the visit to the St Petersburg Election Commission, the observers went to precinct election commissions to monitor the voting directly.
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