Bilingual and with additional safeguards: a distinguishing feature of the 2025 ballots in Tatarstan

      Polling stations will be provided with stencils for the blind and visually impaired

      Ballots for the elections of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan will be light green

      Ballots for the elections of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan and for the additional elections of a deputy to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan for the Melekess single-mandate constituency No. 18 were produced in the printing workshop of the Idel-Press publishing house.

      "The ballot paper is one of the most important documents of the entire election campaign. It contains the names of the candidates and brief information about their biographies. We will make every effort to ensure that the single voting day in Tatarstan is as transparent and well-organized as possible, in strict accordance with the law," said Andrey Kondratyev, chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      The form and text of the ballots were approved by the CEC. They are different colors: for the elections of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan they will be light green, and for the elections of a deputy to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan for the Melekess single-mandate constituency they will be light pink. The ballots are printed in the republic’s two state languages — Russian and Tatar — which ensures the accessibility of information for all residents of the republic.

      Candidates’ surnames are listed in alphabetical order. Next to a candidate’s surname, first name and patronymic are indicated the year of birth, place of residence, principal place of work, and information about the political party that nominated the candidate.

      Each ballot has several levels of protection

      For voting in the elections of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, 2,923,100 ballots were produced, including 93,900 for voting using ballot-processing complexes (KOIB). For the additional elections of a deputy to the State Council for the Melekess single-mandate constituency No. 18 — 53,400 ballots.

      For the elections of deputies to the Kazan City Duma, 927,000 ballots were produced, and for the elections of deputies to the Naberezhnye Chelny City Council — a print run of 327,000 ballots.

      Each ballot paper produced in Tatarstan for the 14 September elections has several levels of protection — a unique security mesh, signatures of precinct election commission members and a stamp.

      "All protection measures are provided — a unique tangir-pattern security mesh, and in the upper right corner there is a 'live' protection — the precinct election commission’s stamp and two signatures of precinct election commission members with the right to a decisive vote," Kondratyev noted.

      Innovative ballot security

      Ballots for the additional elections of a deputy to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan for the Melekess single-mandate constituency No. 18, for the first time as an experiment, contain an additional protection — microprint.

      "This year we have a significant innovation. On the ballot for the Melekess single-mandate constituency No. 18, where additional elections to the State Council will take place, we have provided a new level of protection. The lines visible on the ballot consist of microprint text," explained Andrey Kondratyev.

      Microprint cannot be seen with the naked eye; it can only be recognized through a special magnifying lens with tenfold magnification. If you point a magnifying glass at the black strip on the ballot, letters will appear on the paper.

      This is the second level of protection. The protective tangir-pattern mesh is on the reverse side of the ballots, and a special ink is used. This mesh was developed by specialists at the Idel-Press printing house. If the experiment is deemed successful, the new technology will be used in elections for deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly.

      "Attention to voters with special needs is part of the CEC of Tatarstan’s systematic preparations"

      For the blind and visually impaired, informational materials about the candidates for the single voting day have been prepared using large print and Braille. Polling stations will be equipped with special stencils for independent completion of ballots using embossed-dot Braille type for voters with visual impairments.

      "To ensure the accessibility of voting for blind and visually impaired voters, we inform them in advance about the upcoming vote, install tactile signs at polling stations, equip voting booths with magnifying glasses and special stencils for filling out ballots," explained Andrey Kondratyev.

      The stencil is a sturdy envelope with slots into which the ballot is inserted. To vote for a particular candidate, you need to find the slot opposite their surname to mark your choice.

      "Attention to voters with special needs is part of the Central Election Commission of Tatarstan’s systematic preparation for the single voting day — 2025," Kondratyev emphasized.

      Chairmen of territorial election commissions are instructed to provide all 2,752 polling stations in the republic with informational materials and stencils for blind and visually impaired voters.

      Instructions for the 2025 ballot

      Every Tatarstan resident’s vote is a right and an opportunity to influence the future of Tatarstan. To help people feel confident at the polling station, we publish detailed instructions.

      STEP 1: FIND OUT WHERE TO VOTE

      Find out where your polling station is located. It will be open on 14 September 2025 from 7:00 to 20:00.

      If you cannot be at the polling station at your place of registration, use the "Mobile Voter" service in advance.

      You can do this:

      - Through the Gosuslugi portal;

      - At any MFC (multifunctional center);

      - Directly at the election commission.

      Important: The application must be submitted by 10 September inclusive.

      STEP 2: LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

      Before the elections, familiarize yourself with the candidates’ and parties’ programs. This will help you make a balanced decision.

      Remember: your vote is not a formality but a real tool to influence the development of the republic.

      STEP 3: CHECK WHAT THE BALLOT SHOULD LOOK LIKE

      Each ballot has several levels of protection.

      Pay attention to the color. The ballot for the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan is green.

      Check for the unique patterned mesh.

      Make sure there is a precinct commission’s stamp in the upper right corner and two signatures of its members.

      All this guarantees authenticity.

      STEP 4: FILL OUT THE BALLOT CORRECTLY

      Depending on the constituency, you may be given several ballots. For example, in the Melekess constituency there may be three — for the election of the Head, for the State Council deputy and for the local council.

      Take the pen with blue or black ink in the voting booth.

      Carefully read the information about the candidates: their details in the ballot are listed in alphabetical order.

      Put one mark (a cross "X" or a check "V") in the square opposite the name of the candidate you want to vote for.

      Try not to go outside the square to avoid counting errors.

      If you make a mistake, contact a precinct commission member — you must be issued a new ballot. The spoiled ballot will be annulled.

      In Tatarstan, on the single voting day, 14 September, the elections for the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, more than 7,500 municipal deputies and the additional elections of a deputy to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan for the Melekess single-mandate constituency No. 18 will take place. Polling stations will be open from 7:00 to 20:00.

      The CEC of the Republic of Tatarstan registered the following candidates for the election of the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan: Rustam Minnikhanov (United Russia), Vitaly Smirnov (Russian Party of Pensioners for Social Justice), Ruslan Yusupov (LDPR) and Khafiz Mirgalimov (CPRF).

      Photo: © Salavat Kamaletdinov / Tatar-inform