Russian Presidential Elections: Specifics of Voting Procedure

One of the most significant differences between the 2024 presidential election and previous campaigns to choose the country's leader was technical innovations: remote electronic voting (REV) and ballots with QR codes. According to the CEC, these changes will make the voting process more convenient and transparent.

"For the first time, remote e-voting will be used in the presidential election. It is available in 29 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. This opportunity, in my opinion, influences the turnout among young people, i.e. increases it," said political scientist Inna Vetrenko. “The 'mobile voter' technology is also actively used: citizens have the opportunity to detach themselves from their polling station and attach themselves to the one that is convenient".

The election date was set by the Federation Council in December 2023. The president will be elected for the next six years, until 2030.

How to vote

Elections for the country's leader in Russia are carried out using secret voting at polling stations and remote voting. The procedure is regulated by the Constitution, as well as the Federal Laws "On the Election of the President of the Russian Federation" and "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in Referendums of Citizens of the Russian Federation".

Each voter is assigned to a polling station at the place of registration. The number and address of the commission can be found on the CEC website. This information is also available to citizens in the "Elections" section of the personal account of the "Gosuslugi" (State services) portal.

To vote at the place of location, you need to apply in person at the MFC, election commission or on "Gosuslugi". The data for the selected site should be displayed in your personal cabinet.

In order to receive a ballot paper at a polling station, a citizen must present a passport or other document confirming their identity: temporary ID card, military ID card in case of service, ID card of a serviceman and certificate of arrested, suspected and accused persons.

Russian citizens also have the opportunity to vote from home. To do this, you had to apply on "Gosuslugi", by phone or in person at the election commission.

Make a choice online

The 2024 Russian presidential election is the first to be held using DEGs (REV). It is available to citizens with permanent registration in 29 regions: Vladimir, Arkhangelsk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Vologda, Lipetsk, Kursk, Murmansk, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Yaroslavl, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, Pskov, Rostov, Moscow, Sverdlovsk regions; Nenets Autonomous District; Karelia and Chuvashia; Perm, Altai, Kamchatka Territories.

To vote online, you need to apply on "Gosuslugi". During the three-day voting period, a choice must be made in favour of one of the candidates on the CEC's remote electronic voting portal. Those with Moscow registration are not required to submit an application, as the DEG (REV) is available to them on the Moscow City Hall website.

Voting abroad

In order to vote while abroad, Russian citizens need to apply on "Gosuslugi". It can also be done directly at the overseas polling station. It is worth considering that Russian citizens can vote in 144 countries. A list of foreign polling stations is available on the CEC website.

In order to participate in elections abroad, it is necessary to provide a foreign, diplomatic or service passport, a certificate of return to the Russian Federation or a sailor's passport. In Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, it is possible to vote using a Russian internal passport.

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