Russia opens three-day parliamentary election across 11 time zones as economic strains mount

Voting begins across 11 time zones

Russians began casting ballots on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election to determine the 450 seats of the State Duma. The election is the first for the lower house since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Polling stations opened first in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and the Kamchatka peninsula. More than 110 million citizens are registered to vote across the country. Polling stations across all 11 time zones will remain open until 18:00 GMT on Sunday, 20 September.

Ballot restrictions and war focus

President Vladimir Putin framed the balloting as a direct test of domestic support for the military campaign in Ukraine. The ruling United Russia party currently holds over two-thirds of the seats in the State Duma and is expected to retain control. Authorities excluded the liberal Yabloko party, which called for a ceasefire, after the Supreme Court cited campaign copyright violations and electoral breaches five weeks before the vote. Individual Yabloko candidates remain on ballots in select single constituencies, while other prominent anti-war figures have been imprisoned or forced into exile. In an address before voting commenced, Putin urged the electorate to back the armed forces.

Your choice and resolve will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our fighters, that we are a united people, bound by shared values, historical memory, and love for the Motherland.

Contested regions and counting schedule

The election includes four Ukrainian regions that Moscow annexed following the 2022 invasion: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Ukrainian officials have rejected the process in these occupied territories as illegal. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, is participating in its second parliamentary election cycle. Alongside the 450 federal seats, voters in eight administrative regions are selecting representatives for regional parliaments. Initial and partial election results are scheduled to begin release at 18:00 GMT on Sunday, with near-complete totals expected on Monday.

Economic pressures and sentiment decline

The balloting coincides with domestic economic friction and logistical disruptions caused by Ukrainian drone strikes against oil refineries. These attacks have led to localized fuel shortages, while companies navigate high interest rates, a budget deficit driven by military spending, and a labour crunch. Annual economic growth has slowed from a peak above 4% in 2023–2024 to a government projection of 0.6% for 2026. The Levada Center consumer sentiment index dropped to 94 over the summer of 2026 from 116 in spring and summer of 2025, with figures below 100 indicating net negative sentiment. Online retailers Wildberries and Ozon have also dealt with strikes affecting small business inventories.

Public concerns and mobilization anxieties

In Moscow, residents voiced basic concerns regarding the cost of living, travel affordability, and state pensions. Retired military prosecutor Alexander Vertukhin, 72, stated that authorities should focus on delivering a decent standard of living for pensioners. Dmitry Kirillin, 26, called for lower daily prices and more affordable housing. Concurrently, domestic anxiety has grown regarding possible state policy changes once voting concludes, including rumors of a future troop mobilization drive. Some personnel in army recruitment centers and government offices have sought foreign bank accounts as public tension persists.