Soviet Campaign echoes The much-publicized Soviet elections for the new Congress of People’s Deputies were scheduled to take place throughout the USSR March 26. The following provides a back- ground on how the electoral process will work. By. BETTY GRIFFIN aving recOvered from the last federal elec- tion campaign but still feeling frustrated that we ended up with a government only 43 per cent of the voters wanted, I became cCUrious as to how the new electoral system will work in the Soviet Union. Here, then is a Summary of the “Law of the USSR on the Election of People’s Deputies of the USSR.” First, one must note that Soviet electoral reforms have created a new governing body, the highest authority in the country, called the Congress of People’s Deputies, made up of 2,250 elected citizens. One-third of them are elected from 750 electoral dis- tricts, each of which has an equal number of voters; one-third are elected from all-union public organizations; and one-third are elected according to nationalities — 32 from each Soviet republic, 11 from each autonomous republic, five from each auto- nomous region and one from each auto- nomous area. After its members are elected, the Con- gress, by secret ballot vote, elects about 500 of its members to the Supreme Soviet and also elects the latter’s chair and vice-chair. The Congress meets once a year or at the call of the Supreme Soviet, and the Supreme Soviet meets twice a year for three or four months in the spring and fall. Let’s look at how you can become a candidate once an election is called. First, you lsave to decide which of the three routes yOu wish to take — and you- can’t try more than one route. If you want to be a candidate in an electoral district then you will probably have to convince — according to my sketchy arithmetic and based on two-thirds of the population being eligible to vote — over half of the 200,000 voters to cast their ballots for you. If that’s not your cup of tea, then maybe you're a leading person in the Designers’ Union, giving you a chance at one of the 75 seats held open for the artistic unions. Or perhaps you’re the woman mayor Of Lenin- gtad and a leading person in the Women’s 8 « Pacific Tribune, March 27, 1989 Congress of People’s Deputies 75 — artistic unions 2,250 members elected for a five-year term meets annually 750 from 750 from public orgs. 750 from nationalities Electoral 100 — Communist Party of S.U. 32 from each republic districts 100 — trade unions of USSR 11 from each autonomous with equal 100 — co-ops (farmers, etc.) republic number of 75 — Young Communist League 5 from each autonomous voters 75 — women’s councils region 75 — war vets and labour vets 1 from each autonomous 75 — scientists’ associations area 75 — other public all-union bodies Supreme Soviet Soviet of the Union Elected from deputies from first two groups above two chambers, equal numbers of approximately 250 Soviet of Nationalities Elected from deputies from second two groups above on the following basis: 11 from each republic 4 from each autnomous republic 2 from each autonomous region 1 from each autonomous area councils so you might win one of their 75 seats. It’s important to note here that Commu- nist Party membership is not a requirement for candidates except of course for the 100 seats Which are alloted to the CPSU from the 750 elected by public organizations. Finally, you may decide, on the basis of your high standing in a republic or an auto- nomous republic, region or area, that you might win one of the 32 seats your republic is guaranteed. If you choose the first or third route, everyone in the electoral district gets to vote, but if you choose the second route — representing an organization — then the election is held at the organization’s con- gress, Conference or plenum if it’s an all- union body. The nomination of candidates in elec- toral districts begins three months before the election and ends two months before the vote. Once nominations are Over, you have two Months to campaign and you're allowed a paid leave of absence as well as free public transportation (although that doesn’t extend to taxis). Nomination of candidates can be made at work collectives, public organizations from the city level up to the republic level, or neighbourhood meetings of at least 500 people residing in the electoral district. Everyone at any such meetings has the right to nominate, even himself or herself. To win a nomination, you must get over 50 per cent of the votes. With all the various nomination meetings taking place, it is pos- sible that many people could be nominated, so we come to the next hurdle — district election meetings made up of equal numbers of representatives from all the pre- vious meetings at which people were nomi- nated, Participants are given a list of candidates and their biographies in advance of the dis- trict election meetings. Candidates can make statements and anyone can discuss the candidates. The meeting then decides by a majority vote how many candidates there should be and who should be named. Let’s say you’re one of those who hew vote system becomes a registered candidate. The first thing you do is a sign a statement that if elected, you will “leave your job.” You now have two months to campaign and all can- didates have equal rights to address meet- ings, conferences and equal access. to the press, radio and television. In addition, you must set out your elec- tion platform and choose up to 10 assistants to help you. Government and public bodies, heads of establishments and other bodies must assist in organizing meetings and in providing the necessary reference -material and other information. a Every citizen has the right to discuss freely the political and personal qualifica- tions of candidates, as well as the right to canvass for or against a candidate at meet- ings or in the media. In Canada, we have an Elections Act which provides the framework for carrying out elections. In the new Soviet law, election commissions oversee all of this, from the Central Election Commission to 2250 election commissions which conduct the election of each deputy. Nowit’s election day. If fewer than 50 per cent of eligible voters show up, the election is invalid. To be elected, you must have over 50 per cent of the votes and if no one gets that number the first time, then there is qa second, run-off election in two weeks to choose between the two top candidates. The announcement of the results of the country’s election as whole, and the list of elected deputies is to be printed in the press in alphabetical order, together with occupa- tion, Communist Party membership, place of work and residence as well as the elec- toral district or public organization from which the deputy was elected. During the whole electoral process, the mass media, the representatives of work collectives, public organizations, and others have the right to attend all meetings and observe the actual counting of ballots. The only thing that I’m not impressed with are the voting procedures which spec- ify that the “voter shall cross out on the ballot the names of the candidates he is voting against.” That sounds very negative and time-consuming and is more likely to result in spoiled ballots. Apart from that, I'm looking forward to seeing the results. Betty Griffin was a candidate in the Noy. 21 federal election. A visitor to the USSR on several occasions, she has been following closely the changes in that country’s electoral law.