MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Russians to take part in the voting at the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.

"I ask you to take part in the upcoming voting, to choose any convenient day for it, starting from September 17. To come to the polling stations of use a possibility of remote electronic voting. Advanced technologies guarantee its security and reliability," he said in a televised address.

The president said he hopes that Russians will demonstrate a responsible, well-balanced, patriotic position and will "elect lawmakers who will work in the interests" of the country and its people.

Elections to the 8th Russian State Duma (lower house) are scheduled for September 19, 2021, known as the Single Voting Day. The balloting process will span across three days - September 17, 18, and 19. In addition to the State Duma elections, voters will go to the polls to cast ballots for the heads of nine Russian regions (in another three regions local legislatures will elect top executive officials) and in elections for 39 regional parliaments.

Half of the State Duma members (225) will be elected on party tickets and another half in 225 single-mandate constituencies (one legislator from one constituency). Over 5,800 candidates will run in the elections, Head of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Ella Pamfilova said. Twenty-three parties will take part in the upcoming vote.

It is thought that more than 413,000 observers will be monitoring the September elections. Nearly 250 international observers from 55 countries will visit Russia to assess the polls. Over 96,000 polling stations will be opened in Russia, according to Pamfilova.

As of July 1, 2021, Russia, according to the Central Election Commission, had over 108 mln registered voters. Another 2 mln are outside Russia and more than 12,500 people are at the Baikonur space site (in Kazakhstan). The largest electorate is in Moscow (over 7.4 mln) and the smallest, in the Chukotka Autonomous Region (nearly 33,000).

International observers and journalists will have full access to video surveillance at public observation centers for Russia’s 8th State Duma elections.