The study explores the possibilities of increasing the involvement of young voters in the electoral process. It assesses the involvement of youth in the electoral process based on the responses of students majoring in Political Science and Jurisprudence in Kosovo. In-depth interviews were conducted as it is believed that the students in these areas are novice experts in the field of political science and jurisprudence. The research was conducted at UBT College is based in Prishtina, where students from different municipalities attain their higher education. It helps in identifying general trends in the country. The total number of students in each course is 80, every second student took part in the in-depth interview.  As a part of the study, it is required to confirm whether the demographic characteristics of respondents influence their participation in elections. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents were females, in the age group of 18-24 years, currently living in Pristina and are studying at the university. In Kosovo there is a high involvement of youth in the elections (57.5%), students participating in elections strive to change the future of their country (34.8%). However, it is possible to increase voters’ turnout among youth by increasing their interest in elections (23.6%), aligning party programs and candidates with the political interests of the voters (17.5%), and by considering the reasons why the voter cannot come to the polling station on the election day (11.8%). Conclusions: The results indicate high electoral activity among youth. In view of the findings, there is an opportunity to increase the involvement of young voters in the electoral process, and to increase voters’ turnout rate among young people in Kosovo. The results of the study in Kosovo are compared with the results of a similar research in Russia. It is believed that in Kosovo youth participation in elections is seen as an opportunity to influence political decisions, bring changes in the political course of the country. The study also concludes that participation in elections is influenced by demographic characteristics of the respondents. It is identified that in future, no successful party can afford to neglect the category of young and female voters.

The monograph reflects the results of a comparative political science study of new increasing models of voter turnout and the abolition of qualifying characteristics of the participation of certain groups of the population in elections in Russia and abroad in the framework of solving the problem of low voter turnout. The use of qualification characteristics and the reduction of restrictive voter turnout models make it possible to increase the number of voters in elections and prevent a decrease in voter turnout. In 2020 they have become even more actively used in elections of all types. The most popular of them are postal voting, remote electronic voting, multi-day voting, and lowering the age of voters. However, in Russia, the abolition of the voting qualification for people with mental problems, foreigners, convicts is not considered as an opportunity to increase voter turnout in elections. The solution to the problem of low voter turnout is expressed in the confidence of the population in the current political and legal institution of elections, and on the part of the state - in the ordering of ways to strengthen it. For a wide range of readers interested in increasing voter turnout. It can be useful for students, postgraduates and teachers of political science universities and faculties.

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Ways to Optimize the Legal Protection of the Electoral Institutions in Russia Рассматриваются вопросы оптимизации существующих форм правовой защиты института выборов в современной России. Охарактеризовано значение предоставления права избирателям обжаловать нарушения на выборах в суде. Предлагается реформа уголовноправовой защиты института выборов, рецепция норм западного права для пресечения нарушений на выборах. Обосновывается целесообразность расширения уголовно-правовой ответственности за отдельные правонарушения. Предлагается введение в России уголовно-правовой ответственности за такие виды нарушений на выборах, как вброс бюллетеней, нарушение законного порядка проведения выборов, продажа избирателем своего голоса за вознаграждение, незаконное голосование, «угощение избирателей». Россия заинтересована в использовании правовых норм, которые апробированы в западных странах. Для усиления защиты избирательных прав россиян и института выборов следует использовать опыт зарубежных стран по конкретизации видов нарушений на выборах и ужесточению наказания за их совершение. В современной России необходимо не частичное улучшение системы правовой защиты института выборов, но ее комплексная модернизация. Ключевые слова: выборы, избирательная система, защита избирательных прав.

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