MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. The average turnout at the State Duma elections is about 23% as of midday Moscow time, Deputy Head of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Nikolai Bulayev said.
The official told reporters at a briefing at the CEC’s Information Center the turnout this year is "slightly higher" than it was in 2011 at the previous elections.
The CEC does not doubt the "elections will be absolutely legitimate," he added.
On Sunday, elections to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of Parliament, are in a split system: 225 members of parliament will be elected by party tickets, while the other 225 are going to be elected in one-seat constituencies. More than 111 million people are eligible to vote in the elections and no minimal turnout is required. Fourteen parties are on the election ballot.