The upcoming regional and municipal elections in Russia mark the second time this year that Russians are heading to the polls, following the March presidential election. Reports of vote tampering, restrictions on monitors, and pressure on voters marred the presidential election, which saw Vladimir Putin win a fifth term virtually unchallenged. Russian media coverage of this year’s regional elections has been scarce, with analysts suggesting that it may be a deliberate government strategy to decrease voter turnout to a minimum of loyal voters. The Kremlin is believed to be focusing on mobilizing a small number of government sector voters and demotivating the rest to ensure victory for its candidates.
Multi-day voting will be implemented in most regions for the September 2024 elections, giving voters two or three days to cast their ballots depending on the region. Online voting via the state portal Gosuslugi will be available in 25 regions, including Moscow where paper ballots have been scrapped altogether in favor of online voting. Independent observers argue that extended voting periods and online voting increase the risk of voter fraud as it becomes more challenging for monitors and poll workers to oversee the process. The Central Election Commission has advised authorities in southern Russian regions to limit access to online broadcasts from polling stations due to public safety concerns.
Residents of 21 regions will be voting for their governors, with some regions posing challenges for the Kremlin. The Zabaikalsky region, Altai, and Kalmykia have been identified as troublesome regions where United Russia has struggled to secure strong wins for its candidates. In Bashkortostan, incumbent Radiy Khabirov faces reelection amidst protests, war casualties in Ukraine, and corruption scandals within his inner circle. The Kremlin has mitigated potential blows by not allowing any independent candidates on the ballot in most regions.
Members of regional parliaments will be chosen across 11 regions, with a record-low number of political parties participating. Independent politicians face repression, with many being declared foreign agents or convicted of extremism to prevent them from running in elections. Municipal elections for city mayors and parliaments will take place in 22 regions, with only four Russian cities still choosing mayors through direct election. In St. Petersburg, candidates from systemic opposition parties were barred from registering, with CPRF managing to get some candidates on the ballot while Yabloko will have no representation.
In occupied Ukrainian and Russian territories, elections will be held in Crimea and the Kursk border region. The Kremlin-installed head of Crimea will stand for reelection, and voting will take place in Sevastopol. Elections in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are carrying out an incursion, have not been canceled, with the Central Election Commission extending the voting period and providing local officials with protective gear. Nearly 27% of eligible voters in the Kursk region have already cast their ballots for the governor election.
