Russia Election
Voters cast their ballot for the parliamentary election in Vladivostok, Russia, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
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Russians have begun three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. It's a heavily stage-managed election featuring virtually no opposition in order to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. The balloting is spread over three days to help boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters. Voting started Friday and ends Sunday. The Kremlin wants the election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — to underline public support for the war and give its actions a veneer of legitimacy. It has sought to avoid any political risks by stamping out even the slightest sign of dissent.
