The Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, on Wednesday approved the second Sunday of September as Election Day in Russia.
That will be the election date for all municipal and regional elections - not including presidential and parliamentary elections - except for years when elections are held to the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. In those years, regional elections will be held on the same day as State Duma elections.
In July, the upper house had rejected the Election Day bill passed by the State Duma, because the regions had not had enough time to discuss the draft law.
A conciliation commission of both houses of parliament worked out amendments to the bill, and the Federation Council approved the amended version.
If President Vladimir Putin signs the draft law, the next regional election will be held in October 2012, and in the following years, such elections will take place in September.
Earlier, regional elections were held in March and October.
