Russia has begun a three-day parliamentary election, with voters heading to polling stations from Friday, September 18, through Sunday to choose members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The election is the first parliamentary vote held since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, placing the war and its growing impact on Russian society at the centre of attention.
About 111 million people are eligible to vote in the election, which will determine all 450 seats in the State Duma. Half of the seats are being contested through party lists, while the remainder are decided in individual constituencies. Electronic voting is also available in several regions, alongside traditional polling. Regional elections, including contests for governors and local legislatures, are taking place at the same time.
President Vladimir Putin has presented the election as an important demonstration of national unity and support for the country's direction during the war. The governing United Russia party, which has dominated the Duma for years, is expected to retain its leading position. Its campaign has closely connected the party with the Kremlin's broader political and military agenda.
However, the political environment surrounding the election has attracted considerable attention. Russia's anti-war Yabloko party was removed from the national party-list ballot following a Supreme Court decision in August, although some of its candidates continue to contest individual constituencies. Other major parties on the ballot, including the Communist Party and the Liberal Democratic Party, have supported the government's position on the war.
The election is taking place as the consequences of the conflict are increasingly visible inside Russia. Ukrainian drone attacks have reached areas far from the battlefield, including infrastructure and economic facilities, while reports have highlighted pressure on fuel supplies and broader economic difficulties. These developments have added domestic issues to the political significance of the vote.
Security concerns are also evident during the election period. On Friday, Ukrainian authorities and Russian officials reported continuing drone activity as voting began, underscoring how the conflict has affected Russia's domestic political environment. Moscow has also arranged voting in Ukrainian territories it controls and claims to have annexed. Ukraine and other governments have rejected those territorial claims and condemned the organization of Russian elections in the occupied areas.
For the Kremlin, turnout and the final distribution of seats will be closely watched as indicators of the political mood inside Russia. While the authorities have emphasized stability and support for the country's war effort, analysts and opposition figures have questioned the competitiveness and transparency of the electoral process.
Voting will continue until Sunday evening, with preliminary results expected after polls close. The outcome will determine the composition of Russia's parliament at a time when the war in Ukraine remains central to the country's foreign policy, security environment and domestic political debate.