On the Need to Reform the Process of Collecting Signatures in Support of Candidates

Abstract

The article discusses the process of collecting signatures as a basis for registering a candidate, lists of candidates for municipal elections. Using the example of elections to the representative body of Novosibirsk, the process of registering lists of candidates in a single electoral district, the procedure for issuing and verifying subscription lists, and the grounds for recognizing signatures invalid are analyzed. The article highlights the main problems of the institute for collecting signatures in the system of municipal democracy and offers to change the institute for collecting signatures, which will eliminate the excessive formalization of this institution and improve the quality of the procedures necessary for registering a candidate, lists of candidates. The study also substantiates the need to include the state services information portal in the electoral process as an important step towards reforming the signature collection institution in order to develop e-democracy tools.