MOSCOW, July 5, 2007. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning to what extend Russians think that elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation correspond to the legislative regulations. The data were collected as a result of a survey carried out by VCIOM on request of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
Elections to the State Duma usually correspond to the legislative regulations, as 57% of the respondents identify (19% do not agree with them). This point of view is more popular with the electorates of "Unified Russia" and "Fair Russia" (69% and 63% respectively) than among those who support KPRF and LDPR (45% and 50%).
Respondents intending to attend the parliamentary elections are more inclined to describe them as complying to the legislative regulations (67%-68% against 14%-16%) than those who are rather not planning to attend (51% against 22%) let alone those who are definitely not going to come (the number of respondents thinking that the elections do correspond to the legislative regulations is less than the number of those who do not share this opinion - 26% against 38%).
The opinion of Russians as to whether the elections conform to the legislative regulations is not influenced by the fact whether they happened to work in the election committee, but rather whether they would want to participate in the committee in the future. The estimations of those, who express this desire, are more positive (75%-79% against 9%-12%), than of those, who would not wish to be part of an election committee (53%-57% against 21%-23%).
As far as the age groups are concerned, the youth of 18 to 24 years of age are among the most optimistic; 61% (against 12%) in this group assume that the parliamentary selections take place in accordance with the law. For the purpose of comparison: among the respondents of 60 years and older 50% agree with them on this point; against are 20%. As a rule, these estimations are the more optimistic, the higher the purchasing power of the respondents is. Thus, among those who do not have enough money even to buy food, only 42% provide a positive estimation (against are 29%), while among those, who can easily acquire durable goods this quote is as high as 61% (against 20%).
Among the respondents, who consider elections to the State Duma as not complying with legislative regulations, one third (32%) find it difficult to explain their position. The rest mention in the first place that "the electoral vote is falsified, there are violations in the process of voting" (19%); that "the result of elections is predetermined, and the one whom the authorities need, wins the elections" (13%), that "one can buy a seat in the State Duma" (12%). They also mention that voters may be bribed or by exercised pressure upon; the fact that promises given during the election campaign are very rarely brought to life and so on.
The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on May 17-27, 2007. 3000 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%
To what extend, do you think, elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations? | |||||
| Total respondents | Political party supporters | |||
„Unified Russia" | KPRF | LDPR | „Fair Russia" | ||
Totally comply | 10 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Comply rather than not | 47 | 56 | 37 | 41 | 55 |
Rather not comply | 15 | 11 | 25 | 21 | 13 |
Do not comply at all | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Difficult to answer | 24 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
To what extend, do you think, elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations? | |||||
| Total respondents | If the elections to the State Duma were held next Sunday, would youtake part in them? | |||
Definitely yes | I am not sure, but yes | Rather not | Definitely not | ||
Totally comply | 10 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
Comply rather than not | 47 | 46 | 61 | 47 | 21 |
Rather not comply | 15 | 12 | 12 | 19 | 22 |
Do not comply at all | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
Difficult to answer | 24 | 17 | 18 | 27 | 36 |
To what extend, do you think, elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations? | |||||
| Total respondents | Have you ever worked or would you wish to work in the electoral committee? | |||
I have worked there and I would like to work there again in the future | I have worked there and I not would like to work there again in the future | I have never worked there but I would like to work there in the future | I have never worked there and I not would like to work there in the future | ||
Totally comply | 10 | 21 | 9 | 18 | 8 |
Comply rather than not | 47 | 58 | 48 | 57 | 45 |
Rather not comply | 15 | 8 | 19 | 10 | 16 |
Do not comply at all | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
Difficult to answer | 24 | 12 | 20 | 13 | 26 |
To what extend, do you think, elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations? | ||||||
| Total respontents | Age, years | ||||
18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and older | ||
Totally comply | 10 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Comply rather than not | 47 | 48 | 50 | 51 | 46 | 41 |
Rather not comply | 15 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Do not comply at all | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Difficult to answer | 24 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 30 |
To what extend, do you think, elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations? | |||||
| Total respondents | Purchasing power | |||
We hardly make both ends meet. The money is not even enough to buy | We can afford food, but purchasing clothes causes financial problems | We can afford food and clothes. But purchasing durable goods (TV set, fridge) causes financial problems
| We can easily afford durable goods. But purchasing really expensive goods (car, for instance) causes financial problems | ||
Totally comply | 10 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 13 |
Comply rather than not | 47 | 34 | 44 | 52 | 48 |
Rather not comply | 15 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 14 |
Do not comply at all | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
Difficult to answer | 24 | 29 | 23 | 24 | 19 |
If you do not think that elections to the State Duma comply with the legislative regulations, please explain why you think so. (A free-answer question, up to three responses; in % of those who do not think that elections to the State Duma comply to the legislative norms) | |
The electoral vote is falsified, there are violations in the process of voting | 19 |
The result of elections is predetermined, and the one the authorities need, wins the elections | 13 |
One can buy a seat in the State Duma. Money is the most important factor here | 12 |
Bribes of voters and exercising pressure upon them often occur | 6 |
There is no faith in anything and no sense of confidence | 5 |
Those being voted for lie to the voters: they promise a lot given during the election campaign, but do not do too much afterwards | 4 |
A violation of the existing legislative regulations takes place | 4 |
People who do not correspond to the status of deputy win a seat in the State Duma (those who have been brought to trial, do not have a higher education) | 3 |
Those being voted for are not in equal conditions during the election campaign. | 2 |
The electoral legislation undergoes constant changes, these changes derogate the rights of the voters and the candidates | 2 |
Other | 2 |
Difficult to answer | 32 |