All polling stations to be equipped with video surveillance for Moscow mayoral elections

(Interfax – July 16, 2013) It will be possible to watch voting during the early Moscow mayoral elections on September 8 on the Internet, same as during the presidential elections of 2012.

“The next step in ensuring the transparency of elections will be the creation of a video surveillance system for regional elections,” acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at a Moscow government meeting on Tuesday.

The video surveillance system has proved its efficiency during the presidential elections, however such systems are rarely used during regional elections, Sobyanin said.

“I think that it is necessary to create the video surveillance system to control the holding of elections, to increase citizens’ trust and to ensure the correct vote count and correct procedures during the elections,” Sobyanin said.

A minimum number of absentee voter certificates will be used during the mayoral elections, Sobyanin said.

“This is approximately two certificates per polling station. Of course, they will play a purely symbolic role,” he said.

The civic movement, For Voters’ Rights Golos, said it supported the idea of placing web-cameras at polling stations during the Moscow mayoral elections.

“I have only just learned good news from reporters! The Moscow government has responded to the proposal of the Golos movement to equip station with web-cameras. At that, I think it is important that the video surveillance system include the installation of cameras in territorial election commissions and access to video tapes after the elections,” Golos Co-Chairman Grigory Melkonyants posted on his Facebook page.