August 08, 2006

Abstract: - Adults in Russia are divided over a recent change to their political system, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 46 per cent of respondents oppose the cancellation of the "against all candidates" option, while 42 per cent think it was the right decision.

- Adults in Russia are divided over a recent change to their political system, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 46 per cent of respondents oppose the cancellation of the "against all candidates" option, while 42 per cent think it was the right decision.

Russian president Vladimir Putin earned a second term in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. In that election, 3.45 per cent of all voters ticked the "against all candidates" box.

On Jun. 30, the State Duma voted 347-87 to approve a plan that will remove the "against all candidates" box from the ballots in time for the 2007 legislative election and the 2008 presidential election.

On Jul. 8, the State Duma voted 341-100 to allow for the return of early voting, which the Russian Federation had tried and abandoned. 67 per cent of respondents support this change.

Last month, Central Election Commission (CEC) head Alexander Veshnyakov expressed disappointment with the situation, saying, "If this law is passed in the current form, it would discredit elections and violate citizen's electoral rights in such a form it won't be elections, but something else."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the cancellation of the "against all candidates" option in elections?

Support	42%
Oppose	46%
Hard to answer	12%

Do you support or oppose the authorization of early voting?

Support	67%
Oppose	19%
Hard to answer	14%

Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Jul. 15 and Jul. 16, 2006. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.