Russians abroad can vote in weekend's Duma elections, where Putin's party has lost before
Russia holds State Duma elections from September 18-20, with Russians abroad able to vote at stations in 152 countries. The campaign's key development was the disqualification of Yabloko, the only anti-war party.
Russia will hold elections for its ninth State Duma from September 18 to 20, 2026. The campaign's most notable development has been the disqualification of Yabloko, the only anti-war party, which had drawn strong support among young social media users. Despite this, many Russians, including those who have emigrated, still view the vote as a chance to express their opinions. At some overseas polling stations, the Kremlin-backed party or candidate could lose — as happened in 2024, when Vladimir Putin lost at several such locations.
Where and when to vote
Voting abroad will be available in 152 countries, with Russia's Central Election Commission planning to open 319 polling stations, including at Russian Houses cultural centers. Where no local station exists, voters may need to travel to a neighboring country — for instance, from Georgia to Armenia or Turkey. Most stations abroad will operate for a single day, September 20, though some countries have different dates because that day is a workday there: September 17 in Israel, and September 19 in Bahrain, Kuwait, China, Iraq, and Yemen. Early voting is available in 45 countries, including Mexico, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, and Japan.
Required documents
Voters need only one original document proving identity and Russian citizenship: an international passport, a diplomatic or service passport, or a certificate of return, which can be obtained from any Russian diplomatic mission within one or two days. No advance registration is required — voters are added to rolls on election day simply by requesting it in person.
Remote voting and personal risk
Russians with a registered address in a Russian region that supports remote electronic voting can vote that way using a VPN server located in Russia. Anastasia Burakova, founder of the human rights group Kovcheg, said visiting a diplomatic mission is safe for most Russians because Russian authorities have no law-enforcement powers on embassy grounds. People designated as "foreign agents" and those subject to military conscription may currently vote at overseas stations. The only group advised against visiting diplomatic missions is asylum-seekers and refugees, since contact with their home country's authorities could jeopardize that status.
