Elections are a form of direct declaration of citizens’ will effected in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, constitutions (statutes), laws of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, statutes of municipalities in order to form a public authority, local authority or empower an official.

A citizen of the Russian Federation participates in the elections on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The participation of citizens in the election is free and voluntary.

Active suffrage (the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to elect public and local authorities) is granted to citizens once they have reached the age of 18.

A voting process is held from 7 a.m. to 20 p.m. in Tatarstan.

An elector, who is not able to arrive at a polling station in the election district, where he/she is included in the list of voters, for a valid reason on the election day, should be given the opportunity to vote early (10-4 days prior to the election day at the corresponding territorial election commission or at the district election commission not earlier than 3 days prior to the election day).

The procedure of the election of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, deputies of the State Council, municipal elections is defined by the Federal law «Оn the basic guarantees of electoral rights and right to participate in the referendum of citizens of the Russian Federation» and the Electoral Code of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The President of the Republic of Tatarstan is elected for a term of five years. A citizen, who has reached the age of 30, can be nominated as a candidate for the President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The elections of deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan of the 5th convocation will be held on September 14, 2014.

A citizen, who has reached the age of 21 by the election day, can be nominated as a candidate for a deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan.

One hundred deputies are elected in Tatarstan State Council in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan. Fifty deputies are elected by single mandate electoral districts (one district - one deputy).

Fifty deputies are elected by republican electoral district through regional lists of candidates for deputies, nominated by political parties.

The regional electoral district includes the entire territory of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The regional lists of candidates, each one having received 5 or more per cent of votes of electors, who took part in the elections, are admitted to the allocation of deputy’s seats, provided that there were at least two lists and more than 50 percent of votes of electors, who took part in the elections.