Russians head to poll to elect their parliament
Russia is holding elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, from Friday.
Legislative elections are currently being held in Russia in 17 September, and 19 September 2021. At stake are 450 seats in the State Duma of the 8th convocation, the lower house of the Federal Assembly.
Going into the elections, United Russia is the ruling party after winning the 2016 elections with 54.2% of the vote, taking 343 seats.
In March 2020, it was proposed to hold a snap election in September 2020 due to proposed constitutional reforms, but this idea was abandoned. On 18 June 2021, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree calling the election for 19 September.
Due to the pandemic, according to the decision of the Central Election Commission, voting in the elections will last for three days, from 17 to 19 September.
15 political parties have submitted documents for participation in the election. 14 are guaranteed automatic access to the election ballot, and one unsuccessfully attempted to be included in the ballot by collecting voters' signatures.
Half (225 seats) of the State Duma is elected through legislative constituencies. The other 225 seats are elected through Party-lists. (ILKHA)