The organization of elections to the local self-government of the Kalmyk steppe in the XIX century

Based on documents from the National Archives of the Republic of Kalmykia the article is the first study undertaken in the Russian historiography which examines the mechanism of elections to the local self-government of the Kalmyk steppe in the XIX century. The author pays special attention to the bureaucratic mechanism of election, the documentation of election procedures and results. Also the role of the Governor’s authority and central body of Kalmyk national government in organizing the elections is being profoundly considered in the article. It is concluded that all stages of the election process were carried out under the guidance and control of the central body of Kalmyk national government. This authority, which reported to the Governor, in compliance with the laws of the Russian Empire sought for the unification of the election procedure and at the same time worked for maintaining certain national features of self-government of the Kalmyk people.