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Russia’s 2021 Parliamentary Elections

First hours of voting in Russia’s 2021 legislative elections going smoothly — official

The Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Central Election Commission stressed that the electoral commissions at all levels "have done a great deal to train the commission’s members"

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. The first hours of polling in Russia’s State Duma elections were held in a routine manner. There is no information about any serious violations so far, Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Central Election Commission Nikolai Bulaev said.

"Everything that we have monitored since this morning has shown that [it is] functioning normally. I would give it a B-plus grade. There are minor issues and we are fixing them," Bulaev said, adding that "there has been no information about any serious violations so far".

The official also stressed that the electoral commissions at all levels "have done a great deal to train the commission’s members. It seems to me that this has had its own effect," Bulayev added.

"There is information that there are long lines at some polling stations, it is clear that these lines cause some discomfort for voters, but the commissions have been increasing the number of members issuing ballots, and by this time there are no serious concerns here as well," he concluded.

Elections to the 8th Russian State Duma (lower house) are scheduled for September 19, 2021, known as Single Voting Day. The balloting process will span 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.

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Russia’s 2021 Parliamentary Elections

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