4.3.10.2.
Citizens’ exposure to unauthorized pressure during the June 2020 elections
Thus far we dealt with activities that are allowed in theory and which by definition do not
represent direct pressure on voters, with a note that very often in practice such actions do
get the illegal character – either due to the way data are obtained or because of how the
data are processed. However, a special battery of questions measured how often (and
whether) citizens and their family members encountered illegal pressures and how they
were affected.
Firstly, as shown in the table and on the Chart below, the percentage of respondents who felt
pressured to vote in a certain way once or several times ranges between 0.2% in cases of
threats of physical attack if they do not support a certain political party and up to
11.5 % in case of promises to clean up the respondents’ neighborhood or part of
town if a certain political party is supported. Promises of a workplace (6.5%) as well as
insisting on providing safe votes (6.6%) also go above 5%. Promises of compensation in terms
of food/firewood or other non-pecuniary form was given to 4.2% of the respondents in the
sample, promises of a financial prize was received by 3%, and 1.3% of the respondents were
threatened that they will lose their jobs if they did not vote for a particular party. Finally, 0.8%
of voters were requested to vote publicly and thus confirm who they voted for, and 0.5% were
required to photograph their ballot.
On average, not more than 1% of respondents did not want to answer questions about
exposure to pressures.
Table 4.3.10.2.1. Did this happen to you or any of your immediate family members in the June
2020 elections... (in %)
No,
never
Yes,
once
Yes,
several
times
No
reply
...were you promised that you or someone close to you will get a
job if you support a political party
93
3
3.5
0.4
...were you promised that you will receive financial compensation
if you support a political party
96.7
2.4
0.6
0.3
...were you promised or given compensation in the form of food,
firewood, or other non-pecuniary compensation if you support a
political party
95.7
2.7
1.5
0.2
...were you promised a clean-up of the neighborhood or part of
town you live in (introduction of sewage lines, paving, introduction
of street lighting...) if you support a political party
87.3
5.8
5.7
0.9
...were you threatened that you will lose your job if you do not
support a political party
98.7
0
1.3
0
...were you threatened that you will be physically attacked if you
do not support a political party
99.8
0.2
0
0
75