Russian parliament approves bill to cancel Against All voting option

Moscow, June 9 (UNI) The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament today passed in the first reading a bill, scrapping the voting option ''against all'' in federal and regional election ballots.

The bill was passed by a 352-85 vote, with no abstentions against a required minimum of 226.

The Tver region legislative assembly had submitted the proposal to cancel the ''against all'' option to the Duma on May 26, to ensure the amendment was passed in time for the 2008 presidential and 2007 parliamentary elections.

The bill requires amendments in three federal laws, including ''On the Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and Rights to Participate in Referendums'', ''On Presidential Elections'' and ''On Elections to the State Duma''.

Russia is one of very few countries to effectively institutionalise abstentions in its votes and elections can be declared null if ''Against All'' polls highest.

In fact, some elections at various levels have had to be re-run, often after voters used the option to protest unpopular candidates or express dissatisfaction at candidates not being allowed to run.

The head of the State Duma's Committee For Constitutional Law And State Development Vladimir Pligin said ''the proposal to abolish the option is not in breach of the constitution.'' Mr Pilgin also dismissed claims by the critics of the bill that the move was aimed to neutralise the protest vote and to provide more votes to the pro-Kremlin United Russia Party in coming parliamentary and presidential elections.

UNI XC PA ND1802