Russia’s parliamentary election: Who’s on the ballot, and why it matters

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Russians Vote in Parliamentary Election Amid Ukraine War and Tightening Grip

   Russians began three days of voting in the country's first wartime parliamentary election, with the contest featuring virtually no opposition and widely expected to cement the Kremlin's political dominance and the power of President Vladimir Putin. Polling takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, with reports of empty podiums and prizes offered for electronic voting. The process operates under conditions where the key political opposition is banned, leaving the outcome all but decided even as authorities utilize the vote for feedback and legitimacy.

   Why it matters

   Parliamentary elections in Russia remain a crucial mechanism for political participation and domestic feedback, despite the absence of genuine competition. For the Kremlin, maintaining the electoral ritual reinforces state legitimacy and projects stability during the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. Observers note that such controlled votes help autocrats gauge public sentiment and manage elite loyalty.

   What is confirmed

   • Russians began three days of voting in a parliamentary election on Friday.
   • The election is the country's first parliamentary vote conducted during the war in Ukraine.
   • The vote features virtually no opposition, with key opposition figures banned from the ballot.
   • The election is expected to cement the political dominance of the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Prizes are being offered to incentivize electronic voting.

   What to watch next

   • The official announcement of the final vote count and distribution of seats in parliament.
   • Any public demonstrations or protests regarding the conduct of the three-day election.
   • Assessments from international observers regarding voter turnout and electoral irregularities.
   Sources used for this update (9)

   1. AP News — Here’s what to know about Russia’s parliamentary vote and its main parties
   2. The Guardian — Russians go to polls against backdrop of Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening grip
   3. Al Jazeera — Russia’s parliamentary election: Who’s on the ballot, and why it matters
   4. CNN — Empty podiums, prizes for e-voting, no opposition: Russians head to the polls amid intensifying war in Ukraine
   5. The New York Times — Why Autocrats Care What People Think
   6. www.chicagotribune.com — Russia begins 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin’s power
   7. www.sbs.com.au — Russia's election winner is all but decided. But this vote still matters to Putin
   8. www.aljazeera.com — Russia’s elections are more than political theatre
   9. www.upi.com — Russian parliamentary elections underway with key opposition banned
   confidence 100%