About 84% of voters in Russia turned out to vote in the regional elections held simultaneously with the State Duma elections.
Elmira Haymurzina, a member of Russia’s Central Election Commission, said at a briefing attended by Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova that the choice between traditional voting and new technologies had been discussed within the institution.
Haymurzina said Russia’s population currently preferred the traditional method. She announced that about 84% of voters had gone to polling stations to cast their ballots.
The commission member also said voters in 33 regions had shown considerable interest in electronic voting.
State Duma elections will continue until September 20
Elections for deputies to the ninth State Duma and other elections held simultaneously began on Friday. Voting will continue until September 20.
A total of 20,700 seats and elected positions are expected to be contested on the single voting day in 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously described the State Duma elections as the country’s most important domestic political event.