Budget workers in North Ossetia spoke about the demands to ensure voter turnout in the elections.

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Employees of budget institutions in North Ossetia reported that the management is forcing them to participate in the elections and even send photo reports. Some residents believe that protest voting in these elections is impossible, while others are convinced that this is a way to express their dissatisfaction.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the elections for deputies of the State Duma of the ninth convocation are taking place in North Ossetia on September 18, 19, and 20. The republic forms the North Ossetian single-member electoral district No. 30. Voters receive two ballots — for voting for a candidate in the single-member district and for a party list. Ahead of the elections, residents of North Ossetia surveyed by "Caucasian Knot" named among the most pressing issues the rise in prices, low incomes, rising utility tariffs, the state of healthcare, and waste management problems. The attitudes of the respondents towards the possibility of expressing dissatisfaction through elections varied: some viewed voting as an opportunity to demonstrate protest, while others stated that they see no political alternative and do not consider participation in elections a way to influence the situation.

On September 18, employees of budget institutions in North Ossetia reported to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that the management is forcing them to participate in the elections. The published comments are not a public opinion poll and do not claim to be representative, reflecting only the private opinions of those surveyed.

A resident of Beslan, working in the budget sector, said that she voted after work. According to her, classes were held remotely, and after lessons, she went shopping and also stopped by the polling station. "I didn't have any specific reason why today (September 18). We have three days [of voting]. I held my lessons and went to vote," she said.

According to the interviewee, when she arrived at the polling station, there were almost no voters. "Besides me, there was one other person in front of me, and that was it. Voting took about two minutes. I signed, they gave me two ballots, I went into the booth, made my choice, and dropped the ballots into the box," she reported.

I always go and vote in person

She did not hear any discussions about the elections at the polling station or nearby. She also does not discuss the topic of elections with friends and relatives. "Whether to go or not has never been a question for me. I always go and vote in person," she said.

Speaking about the possibility of using elections as a form of protest, the interviewee noted that each voter can choose a candidate or party they consider suitable. According to her, no pressure was exerted on her.

Another resident of Vladikavkaz, working as a teacher, also voted on September 18 around 18:00 after work. According to her, she chose Friday because she plans to dedicate the weekend to household chores.

The interviewee does not consider the current elections a way to express protest. In her opinion, among the parties allowed to participate in the elections, there is no real opposition to the authorities. "I always vote for [one of the parties]. Is this considered a protest? This is an opposition party, although today they all do what the authorities tell them. I do not consider elections a protest because there are no real opposition parties that the authorities fear," she said.

The teacher did not notice anything unusual at the polling station. "People came in small groups, voted, and left. No one discusses either the elections or who they voted for. If we meet acquaintances or neighbors, it's just an excuse to stand for ten minutes and chat about everyday topics," she said.

They don't say who to vote for, but they demand turnout

According to her, elections are also discussed little at work - colleagues mainly ask each other if they plan to go vote. Among her acquaintances, the interviewee notes a pessimistic attitude towards the objectivity of the elections, which is why some do not want to participate in voting. At the same time, the teacher claims that the school management requires employees to ensure turnout in the elections. "They don't say who to vote for, but they demand turnout," she said.

Louisa, working as a kindergarten teacher, said that she plans to go to the elections on September 19 with her husband. According to her, the management of the institution demanded that employees participate in voting, involve the parents of the children, and relatives, as well as confirm their visit to the polling station with a photograph. "I have to do it because I work in a government institution. The manager asked to go and encourage all the parents to come. And to bring relatives with them too. They also asked to send a photo report that we were at the polling station," she said.

According to Louisa, some of her colleagues have already voted and sent photos from the polling stations to the work chat. However, no instructions were given on who exactly to vote for.

Some residents do not consider elections a form of protest

Alan, a government employee, believes that residents do not perceive elections as a way to express protest. "Elections in the eyes of people are a fiction, and they are not perceived as a form of protest," he said.

Alan himself did not go to the polling station on the first day of voting. According to him, no one in his circle told him that they had gone to vote. "I live next to the polling station and I see no excitement at all," he said.

No one discusses the elections among the general population

According to Alan's observations, the topic of elections is hardly discussed among residents. "No one discusses the elections among the general population," he said.

A different attitude towards the elections was described by 25-year-old resident of Vladikavkaz Larisa. According to her, in her circle, young people perceive the current elections as an opportunity to express dissatisfaction, although they do not expect to achieve serious political changes through them. "Elections are indeed planned by my generation, aged 18 to 35, to be used as a protest or a way to express dissatisfaction. But in our realities, the main task is at least to help parties break into the State Duma," she said.

According to Larisa, a whole strategy for participating in the elections is discussed in her circle. She suggests refusing to spoil ballots and voting for parties that are known not to pass in favor of participating in the distribution of mandates among parties capable of overcoming the electoral threshold. At the same time, Larisa does not consider any of the presented parties a real opposition to the authorities. "In essence, there is no hope. All these parties are Kremlin parties. And even if they pretend to be liberals or opposition, they are needed to fill the space around "United Russia". Just, as I said, it is necessary to defend our opportunity to choose independently," she said.

I want there to be at least some confirmation that I decided for myself

Larisa herself did not go to the polling station on the first day of voting. She intends to vote in person on Sunday afternoon. She explained that the choice of the last day and time is also part of the strategy discussed in her circle. Larisa explained this by distrust of remote electronic voting and concerns about the safety of ballots during multi-day voting. In her opinion, "when voting on the last day, the ballot will spend less time at the polling station before the votes are counted." "I just don't want my vote to be given to someone without my knowledge. I want there to be at least some confirmation that I decided for myself," she explained.

According to Larisa's observations, it is the young people in her circle who are currently showing the greatest interest in the elections, while representatives of the older generation, with whom she communicates, often assume that "their participation will change nothing." For some young people, she says, the meaning of participation lies "not so much in the hope for political changes, but in demonstrating disagreement."

Spoiling ballots as a form of protest, popular in previous years, according to Larisa, currently finds no support in her circle. She considers participation in voting itself to be the main thing. "People vote not to choose someone, but to preserve their right to vote. Even if you choose between the same, you need to defend your opportunity to choose independently," she said.

You must show that you have the right to vote and you are using it

Larisa also fears that further decline in interest in elections may lead to even greater devaluation of the voting institution itself. "I think you need to go, and even if the choice is not great, you still have to show that you have the right to vote and you are using it. That you choose for yourself, and not that decisions are made for you," she concluded.

At the same time, the parliament will elect the head of North Ossetia

It should be noted that on September 20, the deputies of the parliament of North Ossetia are to elect the head of the republic. Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted three candidates for consideration by the parliament — the current head Sergey Menyaylo, the deputy general director of LLC "Selengeugol" Oleg Varnavin, and the deputy of the republican parliament, director of the North Ossetian State Academic Theater named after V. Tkhapseyev Chermen Dudati.

In 2021, Menyaylo, who previously led the republic as acting head, was unanimously elected head of North Ossetia: all 57 participating deputies supported him.

Analysts surveyed earlier by "Caucasian Knot" stated that they do not expect real competition in the current elections for the head. Associate Professor of Political Science at Augusta University Valery Dzuatati called the procedure a de facto appointment and expressed confidence that the parliament would support Menyaylo. Political journalist Ruslan Totrov* also called Varnavin and Dudati technical candidates and stated that he does not consider them a real alternative to the current head.

In all republics of the North Caucasus, except Chechnya, heads are elected by regional parliaments. Direct elections of regional leaders in Russia were canceled in 2004, restored in 2012, but in 2013 federal legislation again allowed regions to refuse direct voting. North Ossetia switched to a parliamentary model of electing the head in the fall of 2013.

* included in the register of foreign agents.

** the activities of the company Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.

Alihan Mamsurov