What are elections in Russia?

The electoral system is an important component of any political regime. It establishes the rules for the creation of government bodies and exercises influence on the electoral process. In a broad sense, the "elective system" is the social processes and election-related rules, and in the narrow sense the method of accounting for votes and the distribution of seats in the bodies of state power among candidates. What are elections in the context of the electoral system? This is its main component, existing along with other ways of forming bodies of power (inheritance, forcible seizure, appointment to posts).

We will try to give an optimal definition of what elections are. This is a democratically oriented procedure for the nomination and subsequent election of candidates for public office; The same procedures in commercial joint-stock and public organizations. Prior to political elections, analytical studies and public opinion surveys are mandatory. The task of the candidate is to determine "his" electorate. Of considerable importance are studies that give an idea of the motives of groups of future voters.

In Russia, what is elections are known for a long time, since they have, contrary to common opinion, a long tradition. The life of the medieval republics of Novgorod and Pskov was regulated by elections. Thanks to them, Boris Godunov and Mikhail Romanov became tsars. They for many centuries regulated the life of the Cossacks and the Orthodox Church. The zemstvo institutions of the 19th century were also elective: the village and peasants' elders were elected by the community.

In the Soviet era, general elections became conditional, formal. No one was talking about what elections are in the full sense. It was only under Gorbachev that the situation changed, independent candidates and oppositionists began to participate in them. There was even an idea of the election of directors of institutions and enterprises. The political activity of the population has increased dramatically. Pre-election events were held in the traditional form of meetings, meetings with voters, live TV broadcasts, radio broadcasts, support of newspapers and magazines, organization of social movements, etc.

Elections in Russia for the first time began to be accompanied by political advertising in the 90's. This was especially evident during the April 1993 referendum. In the 1996 presidential election , television commercials were used for political advertising. There was a practice of using the resources of advertising agencies that carried out orders of parties.

The problem of Russian voters today is that they do not have clear guidelines - charismatic leaders. Therefore, people are apathetic and often simply refuse to vote.

What is a democratic election? They are conducted in accordance with the following principles: compulsory, periodic, universal suffrage, alternative choice, equal rights of candidates, observance of the law, free expression of the will of the voters, guarantees of secret voting, transparency and openness of conduct.