View source for Elections in Russia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{politics of Russia|expanded=Elections}}
On the federal level, [[Russia]] elects a president as [[head of state]] and a parliament, one of the two chambers of the [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Federal Assembly]]. The president is elected for, at most, two consecutive six-year terms by the people (raised from four years from December 2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-05.htm |title=The This is no longer the case with Putins recent extension of a 3rd term. Constitution of the Russian Federation |publisher=Garant Service |access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref> The [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Federal Assembly]] (''Federalnoe Sobranie'') has [[Bicameralism|two chambers]]. The [[State Duma]] (''Gosudarstvennaja Duma'') has 450 members, elected for five-year terms (also four years up to December 2008). The [[Federation Council of Russia|Federation Council]] (''Sovet Federatsii'') is not directly elected; each of the 89 [[federal subjects of Russia]] sends 2 delegates to the Federal Council, for a total of 208 (178 (delegates from regions) + 30 (Russian representatives), members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-06.htm |title=The Constitution of the Russian Federation |publisher=Garant Service |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>

Since 1990, there have been seven elections for the presidency and seven for parliament. In the seven presidential elections, only once, in 1996, has a second round been needed. There have been three presidents, with [[Boris Yeltsin]] elected in 1991 and 1996, [[Vladimir Putin]] in 2000, 2004, 2012, 2018  and 2024, [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in 2008. The Communist candidate (of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] or the [[Communist Party of the Russian Federation]]) has finished second in every case: [[Nikolai Ryzhkov]] in 1991, [[Gennady Zyuganov]] in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and 2011, [[Nikolay Kharitonov]] in 2004 and [[Pavel Grudinin]] in 2018. Only in 1996 has there been a third candidate who gained more than 10% of the votes in the first round, [[Alexander Lebed]].

In the parliamentary elections, the Communist Party was the largest party in the 1995 and 1999 elections, with 35% and 24% of the votes respectively. The [[LDPR (political party)|Liberal Democratic Party of Russia]] has ranged from 5 to 15% of the votes, and [[Yabloko]] won 10% of the votes in 1995 and around 5% in the other three elections. The only other parties that have achieved more than 10% of the votes have been [[Democratic Choice of Russia]] with 16% in 1993, [[Our Home – Russia]] with 12% in 1995, and, in 1999, [[Unity (Russian political party)|Unity]] with 23%, [[Fatherland – All Russia]] with 13% and People's Deputies Faction with 15%. [[United Russia]], an alliance of Unity and Fatherland – All Russia, became the biggest party with 38% in 2003.

Elections in Russia have been criticized as [[unfair election]]s under [[Russia under Vladimir Putin|Putin's rule]]. Political opponents have charges dug up and are jailed and repressed, [[Freedom of the press|independent media]] is intimidated and suppressed, and the elections have been claimed as [[Electoral fraud|fraudulent]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Levitsky |first1=Steven |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZDI05p1PDgC |title=Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War |last2=Way |first2=Lucan A. |date=2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-49148-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Geddes |first1=Barbara |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/how-dictatorships-work/8DC095F7A890035729BB0BB611738497 |title=How Dictatorships Work: Power, Personalization, and Collapse |last2=Wright |first2=Joseph |last3=Frantz |first3=Erica |date=2018 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-11582-8 |location=Cambridge}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{cite book |last=Gill |first=Graeme |url=http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/russian-and-east-european-government-politics-and-policy/building-authoritarian-polity-russia-post-soviet-times?format=HB&isbn=9781107130081 |title=Building an Authoritarian Polity: Russia in Post-Soviet Times |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-107-13008-1 |edition=hardback}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Reuter |first=Ora John |url=http://ebooks.cambridge.org/ref/id/CBO9781316761649 |title=The Origins of Dominant Parties: Building Authoritarian Institutions in Post-Soviet Russia |date=2017 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-316-76164-9 |edition=E-book |doi=10.1017/9781316761649}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Frye |first=Timothy |url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691212463/weak-strongman |title=Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-691-21246-3 |page={{page needed|date=February 2022}}}}</ref> [[The Economist Democracy Index]] characterized Russia as [[authoritarian]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Democracy Index 2022: Frontline democracy and the battle for Ukraine |url=https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/DI-final-version-report.pdf |website=[[Economist Intelligence Unit]] |page=3 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Russia was ranked 22nd least electoral [[Democracy in Asia|democratic country in Asia]] according to [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] in 2023 with a score of 0.209 out of 1.<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="vdem report">[https://www.v-dem.net/documents/29/V-dem_democracyreport2023_lowres.pdf Democracy Report 2023, Table 3, V-Dem Institute, 2023]</ref>

==Federal elections==

===Presidential===
{{see also|Russian presidential elections|:Category:Presidential elections in Russia}}
The President is elected in a two-round system every six years, with a limit of two consecutive terms.<ref name="world_over">{{cite book|title=Voting and Elections the World Over|last1=Gueorguieva|first1=Vassia|last2=Simon|first2=Rita James|year=2009|page=79|series=Global Perspectives on Social Issues Series|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=978-0-7391-3090-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GqYGgdWftrgC&pg=PA79}}</ref> Prior to 2012, the term of office was four years. If no candidate wins by an [[absolute majority]] in the first round, a second election round is held between two candidates with the most votes.<ref name="world_over"/> The [[2024 Russian presidential election|last presidential election was in 2024]] and the next is expected in 2030.<ref name=nytimes-2018>{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|title=Observers Detail Flaws in Russian Election|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/world/europe/observers-detail-flaws-in-russian-election.html|access-date=5 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 March 2012}}</ref>

Presidency in the Russian Federation is subject to the articles 80-93 of the Russian Constitution, the information provided in these articles is explanatory to the system of elections in Russia, and the main points to be highlighted are the following:

*The president is elected on basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage through secret ballots.
*The president is to be elected for a term of six years
*Any citizen of the Russian Federation with 35 or more years of age and that has had a permanent residence for at least 10 years in Russia can run for the presidency in Russia.
*The same person may not be elected President of the Russian Federation for more than two terms running.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-05.htm |title= Chapter 4. The President of the Russian Federation}}</ref>

===Parliament===

{{see also|Federal Assembly (Russia)|State Duma|Political parties in Russia}}

Legislative elections take place in Russia's 89 subjects of federation ranging from oblasts, republics, autonomous territories, and autonomous okrugs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-04.htm |title= Chapter 3. The Federal Structure}}</ref>

The elections for the State Duma of Russia are held every five years, and the dispute is for the 450 seats of the Parliament. Half of the seats are allocated through a proportional representation party list voting, with a threshold of 5%. The other half is appointed through majority voting, where one deputy is elected for one constituency. Regional assemblies with their respective deputies are formed through this system. The legislative body of Russia (the Federation Council and the State Duma) are subject to the articles 94-109 of the constitution, and these explain important points about the elections for the parliament in Russia, these are:

*The State Duma (lower house) is elected for a term of 5 years.
*Any citizen of the Russian Federation who is at least 21 years old can be a candidate.
*The president is to call the elections for the State Duma, in accordance with the Constitution.
*The Council of the Federation includes two representatives from each subject of the Russian Federation: one from the legislative and one from the executive body of state authority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 5. The Federal Assembly {{!}} The Constitution of the Russian Federation |url=http://www.constitution.ru/en/10003000-06.htm |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=www.constitution.ru}}</ref>
[[File:Bulleten Gosduma 2011.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Ballot to the [[2011 Russian legislative election|2011 State Duma election]] with list of [[Political parties in Russia|Political parties]].]]
In May 2012 President Medvedev signed a new legislation exempting political parties from the need to collect signatures to run in parliamentary elections.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

==Regional elections==

Gubernatorial elections are held yearly and are to be called upon by the president. These happen in September, by default, on the second Sunday of the month, but the timing is not always exact. Campaigning starts 28 days prior to the election.<ref>{{cite journal|title= Eroding Democracy: Federal Intervention in Russia's Gubernatorial Elections|journal= Democratization|volume= 14|issue= 4|pages= 603–621|doi= 10.1080/13510340701398303|year= 2007|last1= Moraski|first1= Bryon J.|last2= Reisinger|first2= William M.|s2cid= 143961839}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20180923/1528970946.html |title= Procedure for gubernatorial elections in Russia|date= 23 September 2018}}</ref>

===Governors===
{{further|List of heads of federal subjects of Russia|:Category:Gubernatorial elections in Russia}}
{{expand section|date=September 2013}}

===Regional parliaments===
{{further|Regional parliaments of Russia|:Category:Regional legislative elections in Russia}}
{{expand section|date=September 2013}}

==Local self-government elections==
{{see also|Municipal divisions of Russia|:Category:Local elections in Russia}}
The two main systems of local government include [[Mayor–council government]] in which voters cast their ballot for the mayor who represents the executive branch, and another ballot for the [[city council]]. The other system is [[Council–manager government]] with a [[city manager]], who is nominated by and accountable to the [[City Duma]].

===Local mayoral elections===

Elections for mayors in Russia are held in a small number of cities. In 2018, 12% of all cities and municipalities elected their mayors, as opposed to 65% in 2006; i.e. in the span of 12 years mayoral elections were halved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2020/12/29/what-it-cost-to-build-the-power-vertical|title=What it cost to build the Power Vertical|date=29 December 2020}}</ref> Out of the subjects' capitals, only 9 of 83{{clarify|reason=as of when?|date=February 2024}} and (as of 2023) six 'major cities' have direct mayoral elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.newizv.ru/news/2023-02-08/democracy-is-not-worthy-why-direct-elections-of-mayors-are-canceled-in-russian-cities-396582|title=Democracy is not worthy: why direct elections of mayors are canceled in Russian cities|date=8 February 2023}}</ref> In those cities, elections for mayors are direct and based on universal suffrage. The executions of mayoral elections are dependent upon higher administrative authorities, and, for instance, can be cancelled by governors.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/russia|title= Russia|date= 29 January 2019|access-date= 17 May 2019|archive-date= 16 November 2019|archive-url= https://archive.today/20191116225413/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/russia|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="journals.sagepub.com">{{cite journal |title=Local Elections in Authoritarian Regimes: An Elite-Based Theory With Evidence From Russian Mayoral Elections |journal=[[Comparative Political Studies]] |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=662–697 |doi=10.1177/0010414015626439 |s2cid=155532176 |via=[[Sage Journals]]}}</ref>

{{further|:Category:Mayoral elections in Russia}}

===Local legislative elections===
{{expand section|date=September 2013}}

==Evolution of Russia's electoral law==

1993 (Constitution of 1993)&nbsp;– Article 97: Elections in Russia are direct, subject to universal suffrage, and free and fair

1995&nbsp;– Amendment Article 97: Parties are now required to gather at least 200000 signatures and to sign for candidature no later than 6 months before the elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2011/433688/EXPO-AFET_ET(2011)433688_EN.pdf |title= The Electoral System of the Russian Federation}}</ref>

1998&nbsp;– Constitutional Court Judgement 26-P: 5% threshold is upheld by the Russian constitutional court

2002&nbsp;– Law number 175: Mixed election of the state Duma is implemented with 50% of seats elected by a majority system for single-seat district votes (one deputy-one seat), and the other 50% through a proportional representation party list voting scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/ |title= Russian Election Laws}}</ref>

2003&nbsp;– Mixed system is abolished for a fully proportional representation system, with a 7% threshold.

2013&nbsp;– Putin requires a return to the old mixed system, making elections for parliament being subject to Law number 175 once again.<ref name=nytimes-2013>{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|title=Putin Orders Change in Election Rules|work=The New York Times |date=2 January 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/world/europe/putin-orders-new-system-for-russian-parliamentary-elections.html}}</ref>

=={{Anchor|Criticism of recent elections}}Criticism==

=== Presidential influence ===
Since the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], three successive administrations ([[Boris Yeltsin]], [[Vladimir Putin]], and [[Dmitry Medvedev]]) have played a significant role in forming a Russia's party system that has been characterized by the domination of a ruling party which is financed and staffed by choice of the current presidential administration, and which in return provides support to it to serve its interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2011/433688/EXPO-AFET_ET(2011)433688_EN.pdf |title= The Electoral System of the Russian Federation}}</ref>

One study from Reuter et al. referred to criticism of mayoral and local self-government election in Russia. Findings being indicated that mayor candidates opposing the present ruling party, [[United Russia]], had their elections cancelled more easily than those that could promote support for the ruling party.<ref name="journals.sagepub.com" />

Another study from Enikolopov et al. performed an investigation where observers were strategically placed at polling stations to see the effect of their presence on United Russia's vote shares. Findings reveal that with observers, United Russia experienced an 11% loss in share of votes for the poll chosen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/110/2/448.full.pdf |title= Field experiment estimate of electoral fraud in Russian parliamentary elections}}</ref>

=== 2007 legislative elections ===
Since 1999, when [[Vladimir Putin]] became President of Russia there has been increasing international criticism of the conduct of Russian elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/vladimir-kara-murza/kremlin-tightens-screws-it-invites-popular-revolt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724000156/http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/vladimir-kara-murza/kremlin-tightens-screws-it-invites-popular-revolt|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 July 2017|title=As the Kremlin Tightens the Screws, It Invites Popular Revolt|website=World Affairs Journal}}</ref> European institutions who observed the [[2007 Russian legislative election|December 2007 legislative elections]] concluded that these were not fair elections. [[Göran Lennmarker]], president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE), said that the elections "failed to meet many of the commitments and standards that we have. It was not a fair election."<ref name="BBC">{{in lang|en}} {{cite news| title = Monitors denounce Russia election
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7124585.stm |work=BBC News   |publisher=BBC  | date = 3 December 2007 | access-date =25 May 2008 }}</ref> [[Luc Van den Brande]], who headed a delegation from the [[Council of Europe]], referred to the "overwhelming influence of the president's office and the president on the campaign" and said there was "abuse of administrative resources" designed to influence the outcome. He also said there were "flaws in the secrecy of the vote." "Effectively, we can't say these were fair elections," he said at a news conference.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/international-observers-say-russias-parliamentary-election-not-fair International Observers Say Russia's Parliamentary Election Not Fair], Fox News, 3 December 2007</ref>

In February 2008, the human rights organisation [[Amnesty International]] said that the [[2008 Russian presidential election|presidential election]] on 2 March would not be a genuine election: "There is no real opposition ahead of the election. There is no real electoral campaign battle," Friederike Behr, Amnesty's Russia researcher, was quoted as saying{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}. In a report on the elections, Amnesty said laws restricting non-government organizations, [[police of Russia|police]] breaking up [[Demonstration (people)|demonstration]]s, and harassment from critics were all part of "a systematic destruction of civil liberties in Russia."<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=26 February 2008 |title=No opposition or debate in Russia election: Amnesty |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=b126be54-df1a-4a2c-908f-1158bd8ca7a4&k=34165 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309043628/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=b126be54-df1a-4a2c-908f-1158bd8ca7a4&k=34165 |archive-date=9 March 2010 |access-date=14 May 2011 |publisher=Canada.com}}</ref> Another human rights organisation, [[Freedom House]], said that the victory of Putin's party in the 2007 elections "was achieved under patently unfair and non-competitive conditions calling into doubt the result’s legitimacy."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=596 |title=Russian Elections Lack Legitimacy; Meaningful Political Competition Absent |publisher=Freedomhouse.org |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

The Russian government has acted to prevent international observers monitoring Russian elections. In 2007 the OSCE was prevented from monitoring the [[2007 Russian legislative election|legislative elections]] held in December.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,517879,00.html Election Observers Unwelcome], Spiegel Online, 16 November 2007</ref> In February 2008 the European [[Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights]] announced that it would not send observers to monitor the presidential election on 2 March, citing what it called "severe restrictions" imposed on its work by the Russian government. "We made every effort in good faith to deploy our mission, even under the conditions imposed by the Russian authorities", said Christian Strohal, the organization's director. "The Russian Federation has created limitations that are not conducive to undertaking election observation".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/world/europe/08russia.html?pagewanted=print European Group Cancels Mission to Observe Russian Election, Citing Restrictions ], ''New York Times'', 8 February 2008</ref> The OSCE has also withdrawn its attempts to monitor the elections.

=== 2011 legislative elections ===
{{Main|2011 Russian legislative election}}
The [[2011 Russian legislative elections]] were considered to be rigged in favor of the ruling party by a number of [[journalist]]s and opposition representatives.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Schwirtz|first=Michael|author2=David M. Herszenhorn|date=5 December 2011|title=Voters Watch Polls in Russia, and Fraud Is What They See|journal=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/world/europe/russian-parliamentary-elections-criticized-by-west.html|access-date=7 December 2011}}</ref> However public opinion-polls prior to the election suggested that the ruling party could count on the support of 45–55 percent of voters, which may suggest that there were no mass falsifications, despite isolated cases of fraud.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Migranyan|first=Migranik|date=9 December 2011|title=What the Recent Russian Elections Really Mean|journal=National Interest|url=http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/what-the-recent-russian-elections-really-mean-6235|access-date=13 December 2011}}</ref> Nationwide exit polls were very close to the final results.<ref>{{cite journal|date=4 December 2011|title=Russia's Putin and party suffer election blow|journal=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-election-idUSTRE7B019B20111204|access-date=27 August 2013}}</ref>

=== 2016 Russian legislative election ===
{{Main|2016 Russian legislative election}}
In 2015, the OSCE called on the Russian government to respect and support the work of independent election observers. This followed a number of incidents where citizen observers were beaten or harassed during regional elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Intimidation of observers at odds with OSCE commitments to ensure transparent elections, ODIHR Director says {{!}} OSCE|url = http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/171726|website = [[osce.org]]|access-date = 2015-07-17}}</ref> There were also accusations of widespread voter nudging to increase attendance in unpopular or controversial votes by offering financial bonuses for everyone attending, such as free food, toys, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=Moscow to Hand Out $145M in 'Prizes' to Voters for Putin's Constitutional Reforms|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/06/11/moscow-to-hand-out-145m-in-prizes-to-voters-for-putins-constitutional-reforms-a70553|access-date=2020-06-12|website=The Moscow Times|language=en}}</ref>

=== 2021 Russian legislative election ===
{{Main|2021 Russian legislative election}}
In the 2021 State Duma elections, the Putin appointed government headed by [[Mikhail Mishustin]] prevented OSCE observers from taking part in Russian elections. Citing COVID-19 restrictions, officials severely restricted their capacity and access.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Elections In A Vacuum: Russians Prepare For Duma Vote With Dearth Of Independent Information |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-elections-dearth-information/31456424.html |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=15 September 2021 |language=en |last1=Scollon |first1=Michael }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=No OSCE observers for Russian parliamentary elections following major limitations |url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/russia/494488 |access-date=2021-09-17 |publisher=[[Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=U.S. OSCE Mission Decries 'Repressive' Conditions For Russian Duma Vote |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/us-osce-russian-duma-vote/31475220.html |access-date=2021-09-24 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=23 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2024 Russian presidential election ===
{{Main|2024 Russian presidential election}}
The United States criticized voting during [[2024 Russian presidential election]] in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine and would "never recognize the legitimacy or outcome of these sham elections held in sovereign Ukraine." The [[UN Security Council]] condemned the election held in occupied territories of Ukraine and the UN deputy secretary-general [[Rosemary DiCarlo]] stated that “holding elections in another UN member state’s territory without its consent is in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity” and were “invalid”.<ref>[https://dppa.un.org/en/mtg-sc-9578-usg-dicarlo-ukraine-15-mar-2024 Russia's intention to hold presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian areas unacceptable, says USG DiCarlo]</ref> Ukraine's ambassador to the [[United Nations]] [[Sergiy Kyslytsya]] released a joint statement on behalf of Ukraine, the [[European Union]], US and 56 other countries condemning the holding of these elections in occupied parts of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Over 50 countries condemn Russia's illegal election in occupied Ukrainian territories |url=https://kyivindependent.com/over-50-countries-condemn-russias-illegal-election-in-occupied-ukrainian-territories/ |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=15 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> 

The Ukrainian foreign ministry called "to refrain from referring to this farce as 'elections' in the language of democratic states."<ref>{{cite news |title=Russia Begins Voting as Ukraine Steps Up Border Attacks |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/03/15/russia-begins-voting-as-ukraine-steps-up-border-attacks-a84467 |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=The Moscow Times |date=15 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> 
[[European Council]] president [[Charles Michel]] congratulated Putin for winning the election before the election officially concluded, adding that there was "No opposition. No freedom. No choice.”<ref name="apsuspense">{{cite news |title=Russians are voting in an election that holds little suspense after Putin crushed dissent |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-election-2024-updates-227e65cb2a3f2c4cfdb58a9525fbe884 |website=Associated Press |date=15 March 2024 |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref>

==Latest elections==
===Presidential===
{{Excerpt|2024 Russian presidential election|Results}}

===Legislative===
{{Excerpt|2021 Russian legislative election|Results}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
*[[2019 national electoral calendar]]
*[[Elections in the Soviet Union]]
*[[Electoral system]]
*[[Russian opposition]]
*[[Red Belt (Russia)]]
*[[Russian Republic]]
*[[Term limits in Russia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Elections in Russia}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.osce.org/odihr-elections/14519.html OSCE reports on elections in Russia]
*[http://astresearch.narod.ru/Bipolyarnaya_model_strukturirovaniya.pdf Geo-electoral structure of Russia (N.Grishin)]

{{Russian elections}}
{{Moscow elections}}
{{Opinion polling for Russian elections}}
{{Asia topic|Elections in}}
{{Elections in Europe}}
{{Russia topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elections In Russia}}
[[Category:Elections in Russia| ]]