GOLOS Association is conducting a long-term observation of electoral process based on information from correspondents of Grazhdansky Golos newspaper and GOLOS activists. The Association is also using information from the press as well from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, members of electoral commissions, and citizens who are sending information about electoral violations through the hot-line of the Association.

Statement #2 of «GOLOS» Association based on the results of long-term monitoring of regional electoral campaigns (The campaigning stage).

In its monitoring of the electoral process the Association is focusing on the following aspects:

1. electoral rights of citizens and electoral procedures;

2. electoral commissions;

3. administrative resource in electoral campaigns;

4. equality for candidates to campaign;

5. election day procedures.

The present statement is second in a series of statements recording the course of the electoral campaign. It covers the period from September 15 through October 8, 2008. The Association will publish one more statement before the end of the campaign, on the results of voting and vote count.