"We are now making unprecedented changes so that the society, the parties could have more opportunities for public control. This has never happened, we are using new technologies. In these elections there will be no 'early stage' — the main source of violations — and people will vote without absentee ballots. We will publish, announce the information about voters — who has left or arrived from this or that polling station. We are making the system as transparent as possible," Pamfilova said at a public meeting in the Russian city of Pyatigorsk.
According to the official, regional election commissions will be equipped for the first time with surveillance cameras at the 2018 presidential election, while the requirements for selection of observers will be simplified.
"We lack enthusiasts. We need the competent observers to confirm that the elections were fair, legitimate. And if they reveal any violations, we need to quickly and promptly receive this information, so that we could record and punish those guilty on time," Pamfilova stressed.
On Tuesday, Russia's Federation Council adopted a bill introducing a criminal penalty of up to five years in jail for the illegal use or distribution of voting ballots for the purpose of voting on behalf of another person or repeated voting.
