Russian Election Technologies Training Center

The Russian Election Technologies Training Center under the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation was established by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in compliance with Order of the President of the Russian Federation No.558-rp of November 1, 1994 . The short name of the organization is RETC under the CEC RF.

The RETC under the CEC RF operates in compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, instructions and orders of the President of the Russian Federation, resolutions and orders of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Complex of measures designed to improve the legal culture of voters (referendum participants) and train election and referendum officials in the Russian Federation in 2006–2008 approved by Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation No.172/1109-4 of February 28, 2006, as well as resolutions and other acts adopted by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, and the Charter of the RETC under the CEC RF approved by Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation No.121/1213-3 on February 2, 2001.

Operations of the RETC under the CEC RF are supervised by its founder, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

The goal of the RETC under the CEC RF is to coordinate and ensure implementation of activities designed to improve the general legal and professional culture of voters, election and referendum officials, as well as other participants of the election process in the Russian Federation, which entails the following:

Organization of training programs for officials of election commissions of various levels;

Legal education of election process participants, including representatives of political parties and public associations, candidate deputies of representative bodies of power and contenders for elective offices, their authorized representatives, and observers;

Legal education of voters ;

Preparation and dissemination of scientific, methodological, and educational literature, including printed materials of the CEC RF and training programs (including computer software-based) required to conduct seminars, meetings, conferences, and panel discussions;

Production of thematic radio and television programs, educational, scientific, and other video and audio materials concerning the electoral law and election process.

Due to its status, the RETC under the CEC RF is able to commission highly qualified experts to implement its projects, such as members of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and representatives of the CEC RF Administration, prominent election law scholars, and election practitioners, to use the infrastructure and information of election commissions of any level, and apply the most advanced theoretical solutions and practical recommendations of leading electoral and referendum law specialists.

Principal development phases

Organization and conduct of genuine and democratic elections in the Russian Federation were associated with the development of a continuous legal education and professional qualification improvement system for all participants of the election process: voters, election officials, candidates and representatives of political parties, as well as their authorized agents, observers, mass media representatives, and others.

Order No.228 of the President of the Russian Federation issued on February 28, 1995 approved the Federal program for the improvement of the legal culture of voters and election officials in the Russian Federation (hereinafter – the Federal program) suggested by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. Resolution No.482 adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation on May 17, 1995 approved the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation as the governmental contractor under the Federal program.

During the period of 1995 – 1999, the RETC under the CEC RF primarily focused on the implementation of the List of activities accounted for by the Federal program in the following three principal areas:

Professional preparation (training and qualification improvement) of election officials and provision of enhanced methodological support to election commissions of all levels;

Improvement of legal culture (education, enlightenment) of various age and social groups of voters, candidates for elective offices, their authorized representatives, observers, and other participants of the election process;

Implementation of training and qualification improvement programs designed for mass media representatives who cover election campaigns.

Implementation of the Federal program activities confirmed that not only was the program necessary and timely but that it also was well worth continuing.

The Complex of measures designed to improve the legal culture of voters (referendum participants) and train election and referendum officials in the Russian Federation in 2000–2005 coordinated by the federal bodies of executive power and approved by Resolution of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation No.113/1176-3 on October 20, 2000 (hereinafter – the Complex of measures) was the logical continuation of the Federal program.

The RETC under the CEC RF was commissioned as the key implementer of the Complex of measures . Co-implementers included federal bodies of executive power, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the Prosecution General of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, ministries and departments, election commissions of the subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as the country’s leading universities.

During the period of 2000 – 2005, the RETC under the CEC RF focused on the implementation of the list of activities accounted for by the Complex of measures in the following areas:

Provision of organizational and methodological support required for the implementation of the Complex of measures;

Provision of informational and analytical support required for the implementation of the Complex of measures;

Improvement of professional training of election commission officials;

Improvement of the legal culture of representatives of political and public associations, candidates, their authorized agents, and observers;

Legal education of voters;

Legal education of mass media representatives who cover elections.

On February 28, 2006, as the term of the Complex of measures expired, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation adopted Resolution No.172/1109-4 that approved the Complex of measures designed to improve the legal culture of voters (referendum participants) and train election and referendum officials in the Russian Federation in 2006–2008 (hereinafter – the Complex of measures for 2006 – 2008). Once again, the RETC under the CEC RF was commissioned as the main contractor.

The list of activities accounted for by the Complex of measures for 2006 –2008 is organized in 10 sections:

Provision of organizational and methodological support required to implement the Complex of measures;

Organization of professional training of election commission officials;

Organization of legal education of voters, representatives of political parties, candidates, authorized representatives of political parties and candidates, observers, military officers, law-enforcement officers, and mass media representatives;

Implementation of activities associated with dissemination of explanatory information;

Youth and elections ;

Research designed to improve legislation regulating elections and referenda and provision of scientific and methodological assistance to election and referenda participants;

Modern technologies used to organize training of election commission members and other participants of the election process;

Application of advanced domestic and international experiences in organization of legal education of election and referendum participants;

Exhibition activities ;

Publishing activities .

Implementation of the activities accounted for by the Complex of measures for 2006–2008 will help enhance the level of trust of the citizens of the Russian Federation with respect to the institute of elections, and ensure active and conscious participation of voters in elections.