MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Total voter turnout in Russia’s presidential election equaled 2.89% of eligible voters as of 10:19 a.m. Moscow time (7:19 a.m. GMT), according to the data display board at the Central Election Commission (CEC) headquarters in Moscow.

"Russian presidential election, course of voting - 2.89%," the tally on the CEC display board read. As of 10:26 a.m. Moscow time (7:26 a.m. GMT), the board already showed an uptick to 3.22%.

CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said that the figure is based on early voting that took place across the country from February 25 through March 14, before the main three-day voting period of March 15-17, which kicks off today.

The Russian Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, officially designated March 17, 2024 as the day of the presidential election. The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) then announced that voting will take place over three days on March 15-17. Four candidates will vie for the top office, namely New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov; self-nominated candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky; and Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov.