Russians are set to vote from September 18 to September 20 to elect members of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament. This election marks the first parliamentary vote since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ruling party, United Russia, which has held a dominant position in the Duma, is expected to maintain its majority. The election occurs amid economic challenges and ongoing military actions, including Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Voters will also participate in local elections, including gubernatorial elections in 11 regions and regional legislative elections in 39 regions. The voting process will span three days to encourage participation among the approximately 111 million eligible voters, and electronic voting will be permitted. Half of the Duma's 450 seats are filled through party lists, while the other half are contested in single-member districts.
United Russia, formed in 2001, has consistently supported President Vladimir Putin and has dominated the parliament since its inception. In the 2021 elections, the party secured more than two-thirds of the Duma's seats. The current list of candidates includes prominent figures such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Additionally, Yevgeny Poddubny, a war correspondent injured in Ukraine, is among the candidates, indicating an attempt to introduce new faces into the party.
While United Russia is anticipated to retain its influence, other parties that align with the government, referred to as 'systemic opposition,' are also expected to perform well. The liberal Yabloko Party, which opposes the war, was removed from the ballot by the Supreme Court, citing its antiwar stance as a violation of Russia's territorial integrity. The Communist Party, led by Gennady Zyuganov, has been a significant force in the Federal Assembly for decades, supporting the war while avoiding direct criticism of Putin.
Political analyst Alexander Bratersky noted that the race for second place is significant, as a strong showing by the Communist Party could indicate public dissatisfaction with economic conditions. The Liberal Democratic Party, known for its ultranationalist stance, is also likely to maintain its presence in the Duma.
Other parties on the ballot include A Just Russia, which competes with the Communists for older voters, and the New People Party, which aims to attract younger voters and technocrats. Bratersky described the latter as a potential substitute for Yabloko following its removal from the ballot.
Despite the routine nature of these elections, their timing—being the first since the invasion of Ukraine—adds to their significance. Putin has linked the elections to support for the war, emphasizing the need for victory in his endorsement of United Russia. Bratersky remarked that the Kremlin's concern is evident, as elections provide a legal avenue for expressing dissent against the government. Historically, United Russia has won every Duma election since Putin's rise to power, often amid allegations of electoral fraud, which the authorities have consistently denied.