Candidates had to be nominated by theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union(CPSU) or by a public organisation.[2]However, all public organisations were controlled by the party and were subservient to a 1931 law that required them to accept party rule.[2]The CPSU itself remained the only legal one in the country.[3]
Voters could vote against the CPSU candidate if they wished, but could only do so by using polling booths, whereas votes for the party could be cast simply by submitting a blank ballot.[2]Turnout was required to be over 50% for the election to be valid.[2]