Russia begins three-day State Duma 'elections' with outcome already decided
Voting in Russia's State Duma 'elections' began on September 18 and will run for three days, with the ruling United Russia party's victory widely seen as a foregone conclusion. Critics say the multi-day voting format was introduced to make manipulation and result falsification easier for the Kremlin.
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On Friday, September 18, voting began in Russia's State Duma elections, a process set to last three days. The Kremlin officially justifies this extended voting period as a measure to make things more convenient for voters, but independent observers question that explanation.
Risk of manipulation
Critics argue that the multi-day voting arrangement was actually introduced to make it easier for Vladimir Putin's regime to influence the course of voting and, if necessary, adjust or falsify results. A longer voting window makes independent monitoring more difficult and creates broader opportunities to control the process across several days rather than just one.
Outcome already known
Neither the course of the vote nor its conclusion is expected to bring any surprises. The ruling United Russia party is already being predicted as the winner, with a decisive victory expected. The situation is described as a process lacking genuine competition or uncertainty about the outcome, underscoring the formal rather than genuinely democratic nature of the vote.
