choice) - 1) selection of what is needed, preferred from what is available; 2) what you can choose from; 3) about who is chosen (elected). It has long been noted that right choice- a prerequisite and guarantee for the smooth functioning of government bodies.

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

Elections

1) a method of forming state and local government bodies through voting. Suffrage is one of the forms of citizen participation in government. Elections can be parliamentary, presidential, general or partial (if part of the parliament is elected), national, local, regular, early, one-party, multi-party, non-party, on an alternative basis and uncontested (if only one candidate is nominated), direct, indirect (multi-stage ), basic, additional. The most common alternative elections are when an official or deputy is elected from two or more competing candidates. In a number of countries, there is a procedure for uncontested elections, in which if only one candidate is registered, he is considered automatically elected. The procedure for nominating candidates for elected positions may vary. Candidates may be nominated by voters, through self-nomination or self-nomination with voter support through the collection of signatures. Such procedures are common in France, Denmark, and Belgium. Political parties nominate candidates in Germany, Austria, Finland, Japan, and Switzerland. In the United States, candidates are nominated through a special procedure - primaries (primary elections), which are carried out in the same order as the elections themselves;

2) a set of rules and techniques that ensure a certain type of organization of political power, the participation of society in the formation of state representative, legislative, executive and judiciary authorities.

Elections have become a tool for legitimizing the occupying power, as they make it appear that the government was chosen by the people. However, with the help of election technologies, everything is often rigged, from the percentage of voter turnout to the shares of votes that each candidate received. At the same time, those parties and candidates who could really receive popular support are being withdrawn from the election race by hook or by crook. This happened with the NDPR - the People's Power Party of Russia. Despite the fact that, according to general logic, it is necessary to give the people the opportunity to choose from any alternatives, the puppet masters from the government label “fascism” and “extremism” on undesirable candidates, thereby excluding them from the electoral competition. And at the same time, the same people stubbornly repeat: “The power is what the people deserve.”

One of the election options is a referendum.

See also: election technologies, governor, democratic opposition, majoritarian system, mass culture, Orange Revolution, right to choose, referendum, terrorism, electorate.

Excellent definition

Incomplete definition ↓

Elections are a democratic in nature and essence way of forming state bodies and local self-government bodies, in which the people themselves or their representatives have the opportunity to decide who to put in power and who to remove from it through an established voting procedure and selection of appropriate persons from two "Tiiiii several candidates.

The exercise by citizens of their right to choose is one of the most important forms of their participation in government.

The procedure and rules for holding elections are usually enshrined in the constitutions and other constitutional and legal acts of specific states.

The objectives of the elections are:-

giving state and other bodies and officials legitimacy (legitimacy);

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change of political course (for example, the election of a left party after a long rule by the right);

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change of a specific person in power while maintaining the political course (in 1990, the leadership of the ruling Conservative Party in Great Britain decided to change the leader: instead of M. Thatcher, the younger J. Major was elected, who continued her policies);

determination of a specific person from several candidates who will hold a public position.

Types of elections

According to the method of election, elections are divided into direct and indirect (indirect).

In terms of their scope, elections can be general, in which all voters in the country take or can take part, and partial, when only a part of the voters participate in them.

Based on whether only part of the parliament or its entire composition is elected, elections are also divided into general and partial. An example of the latter can be by-elections to parliament in the event of the early departure of one or more deputies from its composition.

Depending on which body is elected, elections can be parliamentary or presidential.

Elections may also be national or local; regular, taking place within the time limits established by law, and extraordinary, or early (for example, elections in the event that previous elections are declared invalid or invalid); single-party, multi-party or non-party; on an alternative basis and uncontested (if only one candidate is nominated).

The fundamental principles of modern choices are universality; 2) free participation of citizens in elections; 3) direct (indirect) voting; ^equality of citizens during elections; 5) secret ballot.

1) Universal suffrage

In the majority modern states the constitutional principle of the electoral system, meaning the provision of active suffrage to all adult citizens of the country (excluding incapacitated persons and persons in prison), as well as passive suffrage to all citizens who meet additional electoral qualifications established by the constitution or laws.

Suffrage is universal unless it is limited on the basis of property, social differences, race, nationality or religion.

The most important role in elections belongs to the electorate (from the Latin “elector” - voter). This concept is used in a twofold sense: 1) in a broad sense - all those who enjoy the right to vote in a given state and can take part in elections of the appropriate type and level; 2) in a narrower sense - that part of voters who usually vote for a particular party, organization, movement, their representatives or a given independent deputy.

The entire population of people who have the right to vote in a given country constitutes its electoral corps.

Electoral qualifications (qualifications) are the conditions established by the constitution or electoral law for obtaining or exercising the right to vote. Constitutional practice various countries The following electoral qualifications are known:

7. Order 3210

Age limit- a legal requirement according to which the right to participate in elections is granted only upon reaching a certain age. Currently, the age limit for exercising active voting rights in most countries of the world is 18 years. In a number of countries it may be slightly higher - 21 years (Malaysia, Morocco, Bolivia, Cameroon, Botswana, Jamaica) - or lower (16 years - in Brazil and Iran, 17 years - in Indonesia).

The age limit for exercising passive suffrage varies much more and ranges (in elections to national representative bodies) from 18 years (Germany, Spain, Guatemala) to 40 years (in the upper house of the Italian parliament), and in elections of the head of state from 30 ( Colombia) up to 50 years (Italy).

In some countries, not only a lower, but also an upper barrier to the age limit is established: for example, in a number of countries (Gabon, Kazakhstan), a candidate for the post of president of the country must be no older than 65 years. An age limit is also established for candidates for the positions of judges, and in some countries for the positions of ministers.

The residency requirement is a requirement established by law, according to which a citizen’s receipt of active or passive suffrage is conditional on the established period of residence in a given locality or country at the time of elections.

Property qualification - requirements of the electoral law, according to which the right to vote (active or passive) is granted only to citizens who have property of a certain value or pay taxes not less than a given amount. In the 19th century was widespread throughout the world, but is now rare, as it contradicts the principle of equal rights of citizens. It is preserved, for example, in Canada, where only a citizen who owns real estate worth at least $4,000 can be elected to the upper house of parliament (the Senate).

Educational qualification is a requirement of the electoral law, according to which the right to vote (active or passive) is granted only to those citizens who have a stipulated level of education recorded in the relevant document.

Literacy qualification is one of the varieties of educational qualification, a requirement of the electoral law, according to which a voter or candidate for an elected public office must be able to read and write in the official language (or one of the official languages).

Currently, restriction of active suffrage through literacy qualifications is quite rare (Thailand, Kuwait, Tonga). To obtain passive suffrage, the literacy qualification is still widespread, especially in developing countries (Malaysia, Kenya, Egypt, Ecuador, etc.).

Nationality qualification is a requirement of the constitution or electoral law, according to which in order to have active or passive suffrage one must belong to a certain nationality.

Restrictions on active suffrage by means of nationality qualifications are now practically never encountered, but there are still cases of restrictions on passive suffrage on this basis. For example, according to the 1973 Constitution of Syria, only an Arab can be the president of this state, and the 1992 Constitution of Turkmenistan allows only a Turkmen to be elected president of the country.

It should, however, be borne in mind that the constitutions of some states terminologically equate nationality with citizenship: for example, the “Basic Law” of the Federal Republic of Germany, speaking of “Germans,” means all citizens of the German state, regardless of their ethnic origin, etc.

Racial qualification is a requirement of the electoral law, according to which voting rights are granted only to citizens of a certain race. In recent decades, it has been extremely rare in world practice. The last racial qualification was abolished in South Africa in 1993.

Gender qualification is a legislative restriction of the right to vote (active or passive) on the basis of gender, namely the denial of the right to vote to women. In the 19th and early 20th centuries. existed everywhere in the world. Abolished in New Zealand in 1893, in Finland in 1906, in Great Britain in 1918, in the USA in 1920, in France in 1944, in Japan in 1945, in Switzerland in 1971, in Liechtenstein in 1976

Currently it persists in a few states, for example in Kuwait.

“Moral qualification” is in some countries a requirement of the electoral law, according to which in order to have active and (or) passive voting rights it is necessary to “have high moral qualities” and “lead a decent lifestyle.” Whether a potential voter or candidate satisfies the “moral qualifications” is at the discretion of the electoral authorities. Nowadays it is rare, mainly in developing countries, such as Zaire.

99 Service (professional) qualification - provisions of the electoral law that limit the electoral rights of citizens based on the position held, professional activity or clergy. Thus, in almost all Latin American and many African countries (for example, Cameroon, Senegal), military personnel, police and security officials do not have the right to vote. In Mexico, Paraguay and Thailand, clergy, etc., are deprived of passive suffrage.

The establishment of a service qualification is motivated by the fact that the nature of a number of professions is, in principle, incompatible with active participation in political life or with the performance of parliamentary duties.

Language qualification is a requirement according to which, in order to have voting rights, it is necessary to speak the official (state) language (or one of the official languages, or all official languages) of a given state. It is widespread in a number of multinational states (sometimes in the form of a literacy qualification).

Sometimes, in addition to the general one, a qualified language qualification is established. Thus, according to the Constitution of Kazakhstan of 1993, a citizen of Kazakhstan who is fluent in state language, while a candidate for the post of vice president is required only to have a simple command of the state language.

Citizenship qualification means a requirement established by the constitution or electoral law that a voter or candidate for an elective public office must possess the citizenship of a given state.

The citizenship qualification is one of the most common electoral qualifications and is used almost throughout the world. Only in some Western and Eastern European countries (Spain, Finland, Hungary, etc.) participation in elections to local government bodies by persons who are not citizens of the state is allowed.

In a number of countries, there is an increased (qualified) citizenship qualification: in order to have voting rights, one must be a citizen of a given state for a certain period of time or even be a citizen by birth. For example, according to the US Constitution, candidates for the positions of deputies of the House of Representatives of the US Congress must be US citizens for at least 7 years, and for the positions of senators - for at least 9 years. Candidates for the presidency of the United States, Estonia, the Philippines and several other countries must be citizens by birth.

2)

The principle of free elections (free participation in elections) means that the voter himself decides whether to participate in the electoral process, and if so, to what extent.

During elections, a phenomenon such as absenteeism (from Latin - “absens” - absent) can be observed - in the science of constitutional law, a term meaning the voluntary non-participation of voters in voting in an election or referendum. In modern democratic states, absenteeism is a widespread phenomenon: usually from 20 to 40% of people eligible to vote do not vote.

In order to overcome absenteeism and ensure greater legitimacy of elected bodies, a number of countries (for example, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, etc.) have introduced compulsory voting (compulsory vote), when non-participation in voting entails moral condemnation, a fine and even deprivation freedom.

3)

Direct suffrage is a principle of the electoral system that involves a voter directly casting his vote for a specific candidate or list of candidates. With direct suffrage, there are no special intermediaries - electors.

An elector is a person who has the right to vote in the second (third, fourth) stage in indirect multi-stage elections. Electors are either elected only to perform this function (electors in the election of the President of the United States), or are such by virtue of their position (members of municipalities in France in the election of senators).

Multi-stage, multi-degree elections are characterized by a slightly different path - when lower representative bodies are elected directly by citizens, and then these bodies elect deputies of a higher representative body. Such a system was used in the past in the USSR, Cuba and a number of other countries, and today it is used in the PRC.

A part of the French Senate is formed through three-stage elections: voters vote for municipal councilors, the latter appoint delegates who elect senators.

4) Equal suffrage. Ensuring equality of voting rights is a principle of the electoral system, which presupposes the presence of three conditions: 1) each voter must have the same number of votes (most often one, but other options are possible. For example, in Germany, a voter is given two votes: the first - for the election of deputies according to the electoral district, the second - for elections to the Bundestag according to the land list); 2) it is necessary that each deputy represents (approximately) the same number of voters; 3) it is unacceptable to divide voters into categories (curias) based on property, nationality, religion or other characteristics.

What are Elections? Meaning and interpretation of the word vybory, definition of the term

1) Elections- - the procedure for electing people's representatives nominated from parties, movements or independently to certain government posts. Under the Soviet system, elections were formal in nature, since almost 100% voter turnout was ensured with voting on a non-alternative basis. However, in this way Western democracies were made to understand that in the USSR there were institutions that allowed for democratic expression of will. However, under the conditions of a “democratic” system modern Russia elections turn into a noisy farce with many candidates, parties or contenders for the “up for grabs” post. During the election process, election technologies and manipulation of public opinion are actively used. The outcome of elections, as a rule, is known in advance due to the fact that the candidates desired by the authorities have enormous financial and administrative support. The people perform a purely formal function, “voting with their hearts.” Elections have become a tool for legitimizing the occupying power, as they make it appear that the government was chosen by the people. However, with the help of election technologies, everything is often rigged, from the percentage of voter turnout to the shares of votes that each candidate received. At the same time, those parties and candidates who could really receive popular support are being withdrawn from the election race by hook or by crook. This happened with the NDPR - the People's Power Party of Russia. Despite the fact that, according to the general logic, it is necessary to give the people the opportunity to choose from any alternatives, the puppeteers from the government label “fascism” and “extremism” on undesirable candidates, thereby excluding them from the electoral competition. And at the same time, the same people stubbornly repeat: “The power is what the people deserve.” One of the election options is a referendum. See also: election technologies, governor, democratic opposition, majoritarian system, mass culture, orange revolution, right to choose, referendum, terrorism, electorate.

2) Elections- - a method of forming public authorities and empowering officials through the expression of the will of citizens.

3) Elections- - election by voting of representative bodies of the state, members of the organization, officials.

4) Elections- - a set of rules and techniques that ensure a certain type of organization of political power, public participation in the formation of state representative, legislative, executive and judicial bodies.

5) Elections- - the most important institution of modern democracy, one of the main forms of expression of the will of the people and their participation in political process and at the same time a way of forming representative bodies (parliament, local government) and filling some senior government positions (for example, the president). In the political practice of various countries there are presidential, parliamentary, and municipal (local, usually city, self-government bodies). In addition - regular, extraordinary, additional. Of greatest interest is the classification of elections according to the principles of electoral law, which reflect the degree of legal and democratic development of a particular country and its electoral system. In this case, the generally accepted division takes the form of paired opposites: universal - limited (qualified); equal - unequal; direct - indirect (multi-degree); with secret voting - with open voting. Free and democratic elections are possible in the presence of three conditions: alternative (the voter has the opportunity to prefer one of several candidates), freedom of conduct election campaign and freedom of expression of voters. Most countries modern world proclaimed in their constitutions or special electoral laws the rights of citizens to universal and equal voting by secret ballot. Universality of elections presupposes the right of all citizens who have reached the legal age to participate in elections, and this right means both active and passive suffrage. However, both are limited by electoral qualifications in a number of countries. However, the steady process of democratization in the world does not ignore qualification restrictions, softening them step by step. V. are considered equal if a single norm of representation is ensured - the number of voters represented by one candidate for an elected seat. Regarding collegial government bodies, the following pattern can be noted: local bodies, unicameral parliaments and the lower houses of bicameral parliaments are elected everywhere by direct elections, and in a number of countries, the upper houses (in particular, the US Senate). This voting is also secret, which is now typical for all civilized countries of the world.

Elections

The procedure for electing people's representatives nominated by parties, movements or independently to certain government posts. Under the Soviet system, elections were formal in nature, since almost 100% voter turnout was ensured with voting on a non-alternative basis. However, in this way Western democracies were made to understand that in the USSR there were institutions that allowed for democratic expression of will. However, in the conditions of the “democratic” structure of modern Russia, elections turn into a noisy booth with the presence of many candidates, parties or contenders for the “raffled” post. During the election process, election technologies and manipulation of public opinion are actively used. The outcome of elections, as a rule, is known in advance due to the fact that the candidates desired by the authorities have enormous financial and administrative support. The people perform a purely formal function, “voting with their hearts.” Elections have become a tool for legitimizing the occupying power, as they make it appear that the government was chosen by the people. However, with the help of election technologies, everything is often rigged, from the percentage of voter turnout to the shares of votes that each candidate received. At the same time, those parties and candidates who could really receive popular support are being withdrawn from the election race by hook or by crook. This happened with the NDPR - the People's Power Party of Russia. Despite the fact that, according to the general logic, it is necessary to give the people the opportunity to choose from any alternatives, the puppeteers from the government label “fascism” and “extremism” on undesirable candidates, thereby excluding them from the electoral competition. And at the same time, the same people stubbornly repeat: “The power is what the people deserve.” One of the election options is a referendum. See also: election technologies, governor, democratic opposition, majoritarian system, mass culture, orange revolution, right to choose, referendum, terrorism, electorate.

A method of forming public authorities and empowering officials through the expression of the will of citizens.

A set of rules and techniques that ensure a certain type of organization of political power, the participation of society in the formation of state representative, legislative, executive and judicial bodies.

The most important institution of modern democracy, one of the main forms of expressing the will of the people and their participation in the political process and at the same time a way of forming representative bodies (parliament, local government) and filling some senior government positions (for example, the president). In the political practice of various countries there are presidential, parliamentary, and municipal (local, usually city, self-government bodies). In addition - regular, extraordinary, additional. Of greatest interest is the classification of elections according to the principles of electoral law, which reflect the degree of legal and democratic development of a particular country and its electoral system. In this case, the generally accepted division takes the form of paired opposites: universal - limited (qualified); equal - unequal; direct - indirect (multi-degree); with secret voting - with open voting. Free and democratic elections are possible under three conditions: alternative (the voter has the opportunity to choose one of several candidates), freedom to conduct an election campaign, and freedom of expression of the will of voters. Most countries of the modern world have proclaimed in their constitutions or special electoral laws the rights of citizens to universal and equal voting by secret ballot. Universality of elections presupposes the right of all citizens who have reached the legal age to participate in elections, and this right means both active and passive suffrage. However, both are limited by electoral qualifications in a number of countries. However, the steady process of democratization in the world does not ignore qualification restrictions, softening them step by step. V. are considered equal if a single norm of representation is ensured - the number of voters represented by one candidate for an elected seat. Regarding collegial government bodies, the following pattern can be noted: local bodies, unicameral parliaments and the lower houses of bicameral parliaments are elected everywhere by direct elections, and in a number of countries, the upper houses (in particular, the US Senate). This voting is also secret, which is now typical for all civilized countries of the world.

) as part of a legislative or other governing body. The election procedure is used in the system of state, public, and so on management, as well as in the system of management of any other communities of people united by professional, social or other types of activities, beliefs, religions, and so on.

Elections are considered today the most democratic system for filling leadership positions in any community of people.

Types of elections

The election procedure for deciding personnel issues and political appointments to leadership positions is based on the basic laws of the community applying this procedure (the Constitution of the country, the Charter of the enterprise).

Exist different types elections:
1. Regular - held after the expiration of the statutory term of office of the elected body;
2. Early elections - are held in connection with the termination of the previously announced term of office of electoral authorities or elected officials;
3. Elections of deputies in the order of rotation. May be carried out against some deputies of a representative body of state power in the manner and within the time limits established by law;
4. By-elections(by-elections) - appointed in case of vacancies during the term of office of the collegial body;
5. Repeat elections - are held when the elections held are declared invalid or invalid by a decision of the court or the election commission.

Repeat elections should not be confused with repeat voting, which is held within the framework of elections in the event that none of the candidates received required quantity votes, unless the law provides for a second round of elections.

Electoral systems

There are three main types electoral systems: majority, proportional and hybrid systems. The proportional system determines the rating of political forces, in proportion to which seats are distributed between these forces. Such a system may also be affected by the threshold for parties that received a small number of votes, when votes cast for small parties are automatically distributed among parties that have crossed the threshold. In a majoritarian system, voters do not vote for parties, but for specific candidates. Under such a system, the candidate who receives a simple majority of votes (that is, at least one vote more than any other candidate) enters parliament. There are also mixed systems. Until 2003, Russia used a proportional-majority system, in which half of the candidates entered parliament on party lists, and the other half were elected in local constituencies using a majoritarian system. The hybrid system is a subsidiary of both the majority system and the proportional system. Its essence can be expressed by the formula: majoritarian with exclusive nomination by a general party list = hybrid = proportional with the indication in the party list of each candidate of the majoritarian district in which he will run.

Majoritarian system

Proportional system

At proportional system Seats in parliament are distributed among political parties according to the number of votes received. When using a proportional system with a threshold, parties that receive less than a certain percentage of votes do not enter parliament. In Russia at the moment the threshold is 5%. Votes cast for parties that did not enter parliament are proportionally distributed among other parties. So, if only 3 main parties A, B and C entered parliament, for which 40%, 25% and 15% of the votes were given, respectively, then the remaining 20% ​​of the votes cast for parties that did not pass the threshold will be distributed in the ratio 40:25:15 and in fact Party A will receive 50%, Party B will receive 31.25%, and Party C will receive 18.75% of the votes. The proportional election system has been in effect in Russia since 2003. This system is also used in elections in Israel, Italy, etc. Electoral System In Ukraine, the proportional system was in effect in the elections to the Supreme Council of Ukraine in 2006 and 2007. The district in which elections are held according to the proportional system is called a multi-member electoral district.

Mixed system

It represents a parallel implementation of two principles of organizing the electoral system. Under this system, some deputies are elected in districts using a majoritarian system, and the rest are elected from party lists using a proportional system. It was used in Ukraine in the elections of people's deputies of Ukraine in 2002. Since 2006, a proportional system of elections to the Supreme Council has been in effect in Ukraine. On July 10, 2010, a law was adopted according to which elections of deputies of the Supreme Council of Crimea, regional, district, city, and district councils in cities are held according to a mixed system.

Hybrid system

It is the result of a synthesis of two main systems: majoritarian and proportional. It has the same procedure for determining elected deputies as the majoritarian system, but the procedure for nomination is inherent in the proportional system.

Electoral qualification

To protect the democratic process from incompetent and unsystematic political forces, most countries have different kinds qualifications for voters and candidates. Types of qualifications:

• age
• citizenship
• property
• class

Majority in suffrage

Majority is a constitutional law concept used in conducting various forms voting. In electoral law it is customary to distinguish between absolute, simple, relative and qualification.

Absolute a majority of 50% + 1 vote of the total number of voters or deputies established by the Constitution is considered. That is, the total number is a constitutional number. Such a majority is required when the State Duma adopts laws or decisions regarding their material competence.

Simple a majority is when a candidate receives more than half of the votes cast by voters taking part in the voting. As a rule, elections are considered valid when more than half of the people included in the electoral lists took part in the voting. As a result, a “simple majority” in this case means that the elected person received 25% plus one vote from the total number of voters. This rule applies, for example, during presidential elections. The second meaning means that a decision is made by a majority of the votes present at the meeting or even by a majority of the votes of those who took part in the voting. This form of decision-making is mainly used when discussing procedural issues.

Relative The majority is considered to be the number of votes of the winning candidate for whom more voters voted than for the opponent. This principle is applied when electing deputies for territorial electoral districts. It doesn't matter how many more votes the winner gets, what matters is that they get more votes than their opponents. An election may be considered invalid if less than 25% of voters took part in the voting. The relative majority method is used to determine, by voting, the preference for one of the proposed options for resolving the issue under discussion.

Qualified a majority is considered when a candidate is elected by the highest number of voters who cast their votes for him, for example, 2/3, ¾, of the total number of voters or the number of voters who participated in the vote. It is required, for example, in order to overcome the president, imposed on a law adopted by the State Duma. If the State Duma insists on its way, then it must receive at least 2/3 of the votes. Constitutional laws require at least ¾ votes to pass.

Stages of the electoral process

• setting an election date
• formation (determination) of electoral districts
• establishment of polling stations
• creation of electoral bodies
• Period for nominating candidates or party lists.
• Campaign period is the period during which election campaigning is permitted.
• Exit polls, or exit polls, are informal invitations to voters to record their choices to monitor the actions of the election commission.
• Counting of votes, determination of election results by the election commission. Monitoring compliance with laws on the electoral process; electoral legal disputes; liability for electoral violations.

Electronic elections

In electronic elections, instead of regular ballots, special electronic voting devices are used. This allows you to significantly simplify the vote counting procedure.

However, the benefits of using computers for voting are controversial. Some critics argue that electronic elections contradict the principle of transparency and openness of elections, since they do not allow tracking the voting process and can be falsified by hackers. Based on these considerations, the German Constitutional Court ruled in March 2009 to ban the use of computers for voting during elections.

Electoral technologies

In a general sense, this is political advertising and consulting. Forecasting elections.

However, in reality, political technologies should be understood as a set of specific measures, techniques and methods used by specialists in organizing participation in elections (“political technologists”) aimed at winning elections. Sociology, advertising technologies and technologies of formation act as “toolboxes” in electoral technologies. public opinion(PR), selected methods of marketing and social psychology. Currently, the largest election campaigns are organized and carried out by professional teams of specialists, uniting professionals in various fields of election technologies. Russia today is characterized by the dominance in elections of teams of specialists uniting around their leaders and the departure of the majority of specialized agencies into the field of business consulting.

Disadvantages of Electoral Systems

Currently used systems based on absolute or relative majority of votes cannot provide an adequate reflection of the wishes of even the people who participated in the elections. This was shown using elementary reasoning by the French mathematician and philosopher Condorcet

Suffrage- the right of a citizen to elect and be elected.

Passive suffrage is the right to be elected to government bodies and local self-government bodies.

Active suffrage is the right of citizens to elect to elected government bodies, as well as to participate in referendums.

Elections by country

Elections in Russia

Story

In the Soviet Union, regional and district Soviets were formed through elections. The elections were uncontested, since all candidates represented the “Bloc of Communists and Non-Party People” and were approved in advance by the leadership. Citizens could theoretically vote for or against a candidate, but cases where a candidate is not elected are unique. The turnout for the elections was almost one hundred percent thanks to mass campaigning.

Until 1936, elections in Russia were multi-stage, and then direct. In 1990, elections of people's deputies of the RSFSR took place. On June 12, 1991, direct elections of the President of Russia were held for the first time, which Boris Yeltsin won.

Election system in Russia

In Russia, a citizen has the right to vote from the age of 18, the right to be elected to a representative body from the age of 21, and the President of the country from the age of 35.

The President of Russia and the State Duma are elected for a term of 6 (Article 81 of the Constitution of Russia) and 5 years, respectively. Based on the Constitution, the President cannot be elected for more than two consecutive terms.

Cancellation of election results

According to some lawyers, the procedure for appealing election results in Russia is not sufficiently developed. Thus, the head of the legal service of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, State Duma deputy Vadim Solovyov believes that:

US elections

President of the U.S.A

USA congress

Elections in Ukraine

Parliamentary elections:

• Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 1994 (majority system)
• Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine March 1998 (mixed, proportional-majoritarian system)
• Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine March 2002 (mixed, proportional-majoritarian system)
• Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine March 2006 (proportional system)
• Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine in September 2007
• Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine October 2012 (mixed, proportional-majority system)

Presidential elections

• The first presidential elections in Ukraine (December 1991). Leonid Kravchuk won.
• Elections of the President of Ukraine. Two rounds. 1994 President - Leonid Kuchma.
• Elections of the President of Ukraine. Autumn 1999. Two rounds. President - Leonid Kuchma.
• Elections of the President of Ukraine. Autumn 2004. Two rounds. December 2004 - second round re-vote. President Viktor Yushchenko.
• Elections of the President of Ukraine. 2010 Two rounds. President Viktor Yanukovych.
• Early elections of the President of Ukraine. year 2014. May 25. One round. President Petro Poroshenko.

Local elections.

• Elections 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
• Elections of deputies to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, deputies of regional, district, city, town and village councils.
• In 1994 - direct elections of chairmen of regional councils.
• Since 2006, elections to regional, district and city councils have been on a proportional basis.
• In 2006, city mayors were elected for four years, and local council deputies for five years.

see also

	elections in Wiktionary

Every person who has reached adulthood, one way or another, has an idea of ​​what elections are. After all, it is the duty of citizens to participate in the political life of their country, if not directly, then through the election of representatives of a given people. In the very general concept, elections are the decision-making process through which the people elect individual representatives to public office, thereby forming the apparatus of government.

Why are elections needed?

Conducting elections is necessary to legally confirm a representative of a group of people who participate in elections, or the head of an administrative body. Elections, as a procedure, are used to elect representatives as government controlled, as well as regional and local authorities. This process is also carried out in various private and commercial organizations, clubs, associations, corporations and many other associations. The procedure is based on approved laws on which specific associations are based (Constitution, charters, etc.).

Election classification

Elections can be divided into several groups. There are 4 types of elections:

• Regular and early. The next election is held when the statutory term of office of an official expires. Early elections are held when the powers of the elected body or person are terminated earlier than the stated period.
• Basic and additional. Used to select representatives of legislative bodies. Major elections are held to elect the entire legislature. Additional - in case a deputy leaves early, or due to the emergence of additional vacancies.
• General and partial or rotational. General elections are simultaneous elections of all deputies of the legislative body. Rotational - are carried out to elect a part of the deputies of the legislative (representative) body of state power.
• Initial and repeated. Initial elections are held when terms of office expire or are terminated early. Repeat elections are called if the initial elections are declared invalid or untenable by a court or election commission decision.

Electoral systems: what are direct and indirect elections?

The most democratic system is considered to be a system of direct elections, in which deputies and representatives of government bodies are elected directly and directly. Indirect, also indirect and multi-degree, elections are a system in which special representative bodies or electors are first elected, who, in turn, elect executive to the corresponding post.

How are elections different from a referendum?

The main difference between elections and a referendum is the object of the will of citizens. When an election elects an official or representative, the purpose of a referendum is to pass important government issues, decisions, or laws by popular vote.

Election stages

The election procedure includes the following stages:

1. Setting a date
2. Formation of the election commission and polling stations
3. Voter Registration
4. Nomination of candidates
5. Election campaign
6. Vote
7. Counting votes and determining results

Elections are considered the most democratic mechanism by which leadership positions are filled in any community of people.