Voting in the presidential election is taking place in Russia from 15 to 17 March, with polling stations already open in Russia’s far eastern regions, including the easternmost Kamchatka and Chukotka, according to Russian media.
People across the country are voting for a presidential candidate for the next six years. Residents of Donbas and new regions will also participate in the voting.
The candidates for the highest state office in the 2024 election are Vladislav Davankov, incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, Leonid Slutsky and Nikolay Kharitonov.
The New People’s Party has nominated Davankov, Slutsky represents the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and Kharitonov is a contender from the Communist Party. Putin has become a self-designated nominee.
33 people, including nine party candidates and 24 independent contenders, were planning to participate in the presidential race at the outset. Of these, only 15 people submitted the documents required for registration as candidates.
By the first of January, when the deadline for submission of documents expired, only 11 candidates remained in the race. Ultimately, only four candidates left.
For the first time, the presidential election will utilise the latest technologies tested in previous lower-tier polls: three-day and remote voting. According to Russian Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova, people favoured such a format as it provided more opportunities to vote for those who, for whatever reason, could not come to the polling station on a particular day.
