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Elections to Russia’s first wartime parliament continued into their second day on Saturday with polls opening in 11 time zones across the country. Voting is also taking place in Ukrainian territories annexed by Moscow in September 2022, a first in Russian history.
The vote takes place over three days from September 17 through 19, with final votes cast on the 20th. With 450 seats up for grabs in the ninth convocation of the State Duma, United Russia — currently holding 310 seats — is set to consolidate its position. Three other parties making up the so-called systemic opposition — the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and A Just Russia — are expected to retain smaller presences in the chamber.
In this first parliamentary election to be held in the territories Russia annexed in September 2022, citizens of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions are casting ballots to elect members of the State Duma. More than 3.5 million registered voters reside in these regions. One polling station in Russian-controlled Donetsk drew international attention, with photos showing voters casting ballots while an armed Russian soldier stood watch nearby.
President Vladimir Putin cast his vote online on Friday and released images of himself at a computer displaying the voting interface. Putin addressed the nation ahead of the election, framing the vote as a moment of national solidarity and a demonstration of public support for Russia’s military campaign. “Your choice and resolve will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our fighters, that we are a united people, bound by shared values, historical memory, and love for the Motherland,” he said.
As of Friday evening, roughly 30 percent of eligible voters across Russia had cast ballots, including online votes tallied by the Central Election Commission. Authorities spread the vote across the weekend to boost turnout among the country’s 111 million eligible voters. Online voting was offered at significant scale for the first time.
The liberal Yabloko party, which has fielded candidates, encountered extensive bureaucratic obstacles ahead of the vote. Anti-war political voices have been largely suppressed since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Early results are expected after polls close Sunday, with near-complete tallies anticipated by Monday. Dmitry Medvedev leads United Russia’s party list; Gennady Zyuganov heads the CPRF; and Leonid Slutsky leads the LDPR.
Kyiv condemned the elections in occupied territories as illegal and urged foreign governments and international organizations not to recognize the results. Ukrainian authorities warned that residents who participate in organizing the vote in occupied regions could face legal consequences under Ukrainian law.
