PoliticsPutin votes remotely in State Duma elections
Russian President Vladimir Putin voted online in the election of deputies to the 9th State Duma. Kremlin footage showed him casting his ballot from his office. The September 18–20 vote coincides with elections to regional legislatures and senior officials across Russia.
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TASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 12:10
- FACTBOX: Attacks on remote e-voting system, rise in fake news amid Russian elections
Polling stations opened normally across Russia for the parliamentary elections. The Central Election Commission reported turnout of 10.41% by 2:00 p.m. Moscow time, while the remote voting system recorded more than 1.5 million online ballots. Moscow officials said attacks on the electronic voting system were more severe than before, and scammers were using fake Telegram channels to spread disinformation.
- Russians vote with no party opposing Putin or war in Ukraine
Russians begin a three-day vote to fill 450 State Duma seats and 11 regional governorships. Every party on the ballot backs Vladimir Putin and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, while fears of mobilisation persist despite official denials of a new draft.
- Russian MFA: Kiev seeks to disrupt elections in frontline regions by attacking civilians
Russian Foreign Ministry envoy Rodion Miroshnik said Kiev is trying to undermine Russia’s parliamentary election process in frontline and border regions through attacks on civilians. He reported that a district election commission chief was killed and another injured in the Zaporozhye Region over the past two days, warning that election commissions and polling stations remain at high risk of attack.
- More than 3,500 people vote in State Duma elections in Bangladesh
More than 3,500 Russian citizens voted in early State Duma elections at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction site in Bangladesh from September 15 to 17, the Russian embassy said. The mission highlighted voters’ interest and civic engagement and thanked the site administration for helping organize the vote.
‘Voters get to choose — just not the result’: Russia’s parliamentary election reaches occupied UkraineRussia’s State Duma election began Friday, including in occupied parts of Ukraine for the first time since the 2022 invasion. Critics say the Kremlin’s refusal to invite OSCE observers, censorship, intimidation and a pro-Putin party list show the vote is designed to manufacture support for the war and annexation rather than offer a free democratic choice.
Russia votes in wartime election set to secure the Kremlin's powerRussia began voting Friday in a tightly controlled, three-day parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has portrayed as a test of support for the war in Ukraine. It is the first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, while most anti-war candidates have been barred from the ballot.
- Russia holds nationwide Duma elections as war in Ukraine reshapes vote
Russia’s parliamentary election is under way, beginning in the Far East on Friday, 18 September before spreading nationwide over three days. Polls close Sunday evening after voters choose all 450 members of the State Duma.
- Sochi polling stations reopen after UAV attack threat lifted
Polling stations in Russia’s Black Sea city of Sochi resumed operations after a UAV attack threat led to a temporary suspension. Mayor Andrey Proshunin said the threat was in effect from 9:20 a.m. to 11:03 a.m. Moscow time.
- All 633 polling stations open in DPR
All 633 polling stations for the State Duma elections have opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic, with voting proceeding normally, regional Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Vysotsky said. Early voting ran from August 30 to September 17, and preliminary figures showed at least 1 million people had voted by September 17, about 75% of eligible voters.
- More than 1.5 million Russian voters cast ballots online
More than 1.5 million voters in 32 Russian regions had voted online in various election campaigns by 10 a.m. Moscow time on September 18, according to the federal Remote Electronic Voting portal. Over four million people registered on the platform for remote voting.
- All polling stations across Russia open normally, top election official says
All polling stations across Russia opened as normal, Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova said. She reported that only minor issues occurred and that nothing extraordinary happened.
Russia votes for new parliament in controlled electionsRussians began a three-day election on Friday to choose 450 members of the State Duma, the first such vote since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022. Only parties supporting Vladimir Putin and his war are registered, while the opposition is barred. Putin’s United Russia is expected to retain its dominance. Voting is also taking place in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories against Kyiv’s wishes.
Russia begins first parliamentary vote since Ukraine warRussia has begun its first parliamentary election vote since the war in Ukraine. On September 17, a precinct election commission member prepared a polling station in Moscow for the parliamentary elections.
Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags onVoting began in Russia’s Far East on Friday for a three-day parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. United Russia is expected to retain power alongside parties backing President Vladimir Putin, after the only anti-war party was barred from the ballot.
Russia’s parliamentary election: Who’s on the ballot, and why it mattersRussians vote from Friday to Sunday for the State Duma and in local elections, in the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. United Russia, which backs Vladimir Putin, is expected to retain its dominance, while critics say the absence of genuine opposition means the outcome is largely predetermined.
- Single voting day elections begin in Russia’s Central Federal District
Elections on Russia’s single voting day have begun in the Central Federal District, alongside contests for State Duma seats, three regional governors and some regional and local legislatures. The election for the ninth State Duma runs from September 18 to 20, with 10 parties taking part. Regional legislative elections are being held in 39 constituent entities, filling 23,000 seats.
- First State Duma polling stations in Southern Federal District open in Astrakhan Region
More than 570 polling stations opened in Russia’s Astrakhan Region on the first day of State Duma voting, held from September 18 to 20. Voters are also electing deputies to the regional Duma, while about 15,000 people applied to use the Mobile Voter mechanism.
- State Duma elections begin in Russia’s Siberian regions
The main voting period for Russia’s State Duma elections has begun in the Irkutsk Region, with 1,852 polling stations open and more than 1.8 million voters registered. Voting was completed earlier at 43 polling stations in remote areas, where about 4,000 people cast ballots. The ninth State Duma election runs September 18–20.
- Three-day voting in Russia’s State Duma elections begins in Phuket
Voting in Russia’s three-day State Duma elections has started at the Russian Consulate General in Phuket, Thailand, and will continue through September 20. Russian citizens aged 18 or older living or temporarily staying in the consular district can vote with a valid foreign-travel passport, without advance registration.
Russians vote amid Ukraine war and Putin’s tightening gripRussia begins a three-day State Duma election with little meaningful competition. Vladimir Putin’s United Russia is expected to retain its parliamentary dominance after liberal anti-war party Yabloko was barred from the ballot. The war in Ukraine is increasingly affecting daily life, while the Kremlin has tightened control over the vote.
- Russia begins three days of voting for State Duma
Russia’s three-day State Duma election has started, with the first polling stations opening in Kamchatka and Chukotka. Early voting has been underway since late August in some remote areas and among soldiers at the front. Residents of Ukraine’s occupied territories will vote for parliament for the first time, while the Supreme Court barred the antiwar Yabloko party from the ballot.
Russia election: Can other parties challenge United Russia?Russians are voting for the first time since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. United Russia, the governing party for more than two decades and backed by President Vladimir Putin, faces questions over whether opposition parties can mount a challenge. Al Jazeera’s Dmitry Medvedenko reports from Moscow.
- First voters arrive as Russia’s elections get underway
Russia’s first voters arrived at polling stations in the Far East after voting began. Central Election Commission surveillance showed dozens of people at some Kamchatka stations within minutes of opening, collecting ballots and entering voting booths. State Duma and other elections run from September 18 to 20.
- FACTBOX: Single Voting Day in Russia
Russia began voting on September 18, 2026, for deputies to the ninth State Duma, along with regional and local elections held under the Single Voting Day framework. The legally designated date is the third Sunday of September, September 20 this year, but the Central Election Commission scheduled voting over September 18-20. Introduced in 2005, the system has been held annually in September since 2013.
- First polling stations for State Duma elections open in Kamchatka and Chukotka
The first day of Russia’s three-day State Duma election has begun in Kamchatka and Chukotka. A total of 178 permanent polling stations opened in Kamchatka and 54 in Chukotka, with 385 public observers monitoring the election.
