Soviet Union Elections: How Democracy Looked Different in the USSR

🗳️Soviet elections were controlled by the Communist Party, and citizens could only choose from pre-approved candidates.

🌍The purpose of these elections was to demonstrate popular support for the Communist Party and its policies.

📝Soviet citizens used elections as an opportunity to petition for local improvements.

🔒Candidates had to receive 50% of the votes or they would be replaced, giving citizens some leverage.

🧠While not truly democratic, Soviet elections gave citizens some input into how the country was run.

Could Soviet citizens vote for candidates outside the Communist Party?

—No, candidates had to be pre-approved by the Communist Party.

Did these elections have any real impact on policy-making?

—The main purpose of these elections was to demonstrate popular support for the Communist Party. However, citizens used them as an opportunity to petition for local improvements.

Were the elections a complete sham?

—While not democratic in the conventional sense, these elections did give citizens some input into how things were run. Candidates had to receive 50% of the votes or they would be replaced.

Could citizens freely express their dislike for the Communist Party in these elections?

—While citizens could technically enter the voting booth and scribble out the candidate's name, doing so would draw attention. Most people chose to keep their ballots a secret.

Why did the Communist Party not allow opposition candidates?

—The Communist Party wanted to maintain the appearance of unity and popular support. Allowing opposition candidates could have divided the party.

00:00Soviet elections were held every four years, but they were not truly democratic.

00:16Candidates had to be pre-approved by the Communist Party, and citizens could only choose from one candidate.

01:57Soviet citizens used elections as an opportunity to petition for local improvements.

02:45Candidates had to receive 50% of the votes or they would be replaced, giving citizens some leverage.

03:08While not truly democratic, Soviet elections gave citizens some input into how the country was run.