SECTION IV. THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Chapter Thirteen
Article 64
The right to vote and to be elected to the Soviets is enjoyed by the following citizens, irrespective of religion, nationality, domicile, etc., of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, of both sexes, who shall have completed their eighteenth year by the day of election:
- All who have acquired the means of living through labor that is productive and useful to society, and also persons engaged in housekeeping, which enables the former to do productive work, i. e., laborers and employees of all classes who are employed in industry, trade, agriculture, etc.; and peasants and Cossack agricultural laborers who employ no help for the purpose of making profits.
- Soldiers of the army and navy of the Soviets.
- Citizens of the two preceding categories who have to any degree lost their capacity to work.
Note 1
Local Soviets may, upon approval of the central power, lower the age standard mentioned herein.
Note 2
Non-citizens mentioned in Paragraph 20 (Article Two, Chapter 5) have the right to vote.
Article 65
The following persons enjoy neither the right to vote nor the right to be voted for, even though they belong to one of the categories enumerated above, namely:
- Persons who employ hired labor in order to obtain from it an increase in profits.
- Persons who have an income without doing any work, such as interest from capital, receipts from property, etc.
- Private merchants, trade and commercial brokers.
- Monks and clergy of all denominations.
- Employees and agents of the former police, the gendarme corps, and the Okhrana [Czar’s secret service], also members of the former reigning dynasty.
- Persons who have in legal form been declared demented or mentally deficient, and also persons under guardianship.
- Persons who have been deprived by a Soviet of their rights of citizenship because of selfish or dishonorable offenses, for the period fixed by the sentence.
Chapter Fourteen. Elections
Article 66
Elections are conducted according to custom on days fixed by the local Soviets.
Article 67
Election takes place in the presence of an electoral committee and the representative of the local Soviet.
Article 68
In case the representative of the Soviet cannot be present for valid causes, the chairman of the electoral committee takes his place, and in case the latter is absent, the chairman of the election meeting replaces him.
Article 69
Minutes of the proceedings and results of elections are to be compiled and signed by the members of the electoral committee and the representative of the Soviet.
Article 70
Detailed instructions regarding the election proceedings and the participation in them of professional and other workers’ organizations are to be issued by the local Soviets, according to the instructions of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
Chapter Fifteen. The checking and cancellation of elections and recall of the deputies
Article 71
The respective Soviets receive all the records of the proceedings of the election.
Article 72
The Soviet appoints a commission to verify the elections.
Article 73
This commission reports on the results to the Soviets.
Article 74
The Soviet decides the question when there is doubt as to which candidate is elected.
Article 75
The Soviet announces a new election if the election of one candidate or another cannot be determined.
Article 76
If an election was irregularly carried on in its entirety, it may be declared void by a higher Soviet authority.
Article 77
The highest authority in relation to questions of elections is the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
Article 78
Voters who have sent a deputy to the Soviet have the right to recall him, and to have a new election, according to general provisions.
