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Invalid ballots

13 October 2026, 11:55

Invalid ballots — which do not contain marks in the squares located opposite the candidates' surnames, names of electoral unions, the position "Against all candidates" ("Against all candidate lists"), or in which marks are placed in the square located opposite the position "Against all candidates" ("Against all candidate lists"), and in at least one of the squares located opposite the candidates' surnames, names of electoral unions¹.

Invalid ballots — ballots are considered invalid if they do not contain marks in the squares located opposite the candidates' surnames, names of electoral unions, or in the squares relating to the positions "Yes" and "No" ("For" and "Against"), or if the number of marks in the specified squares exceeds the number established by law. If the law provides that the ballot includes a line "Against all candidates" ("Against all candidate lists"), ballots are considered invalid if they do not contain marks in the squares located opposite the candidates' surnames, names of electoral unions, positions "Against all candidates", "Against all candidate lists", or if marks are placed in the square located opposite the position "Against all candidates" ("Against all candidate lists") and at least one mark is present in any of the squares located opposite the candidates' surnames, names of electoral unions².

Federal Law No. 138-FZ of November 26, 1996, "On Ensuring the Constitutional Rights of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Elect and Be Elected to Local Self-Government Bodies," dated November 26, 1996, as amended on June 4, 2014, Article 37 // RSZ RF. 1996. No. 49. Item 5497. ↩
Federal Law No. 93-FZ of July 21, 2005, "On Amending Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on Elections and Referendums and Other Legislative Acts," dated July 21, 2005, as amended on June 1, 2017, Article 9, subpara. g#4 // RSZ RF. 2005. No. 30. Item 3104. ↩

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