Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Nikolai Salatsky
[Regnum] One of the distinguishing features of the September 18–20 votes was a sharp decline in the number of complaints to the Central Election Commission regarding alleged violations, more than fourfold. While during the previous election cycle, in 2021, the CEC recorded 2,757 complaints, this time there were 664. The number of complaints in certain areas was particularly noticeable.
The number of inquiries regarding voting procedures outside polling stations has decreased tenfold: 13 during the single voting day—2,026—versus 148 in 2021.
The number of complaints about the removal of observers and commission members has decreased almost thirtyfold: six against 173. Only one complaint was received about alleged ballot stuffing (compared to 70 in 2021).
After a thorough investigation, two attempts at ballot stuffing were confirmed. Nationally, where over 90,000 polling stations were operating, these are insignificant fractions of a percent.
Each case was promptly identified and processed. All appeals were processed immediately. Decisions were made in favor of the election participants—parties and candidates.
Electoral commissions worked proactively: when messages appeared online, they took action even before official appeals were received. If there were any concerns about the integrity of ballots at polling stations, the results were annulled. Across 20 polling stations in 12 regions, 36,850 ballots were invalidated—out of more than 111 million produced.
A telling example is precinct No. 756 in Yakutia. A safe containing ballots was broken into. Although the safe packages inside remained intact, all 409 ballots were declared invalid, and the commission members were immediately dismissed.
In the Mari El Republic, a ballot stuffing incident was recorded using a video surveillance system at polling station No. 343. The responsible commission members were suspended, and the results of the vote at the station were annulled.
During the voting days, the Central Election Commission received only 43 requests regarding issues related to the denial of observer access to polling stations and the submission of lists.
On September 18, there were 23 such requests, 17 on September 19, and only three on September 20. By court order, 15 observers were removed from polling stations (six from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, two from A Just Russia, one from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and six from Yabloko). For more than 90,000 polling stations and over 380,000 registered observers, these numbers seem insignificant.
Oleg Matveychev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology, and Communications, commented to Regnum News Agency, citing two factors as the reason for the sharp decline in complaints.
Firstly, in previous campaigns, a large number of complaints were generated by special "complainants," many of whom were later identified as foreign agents, Matveychev noted. These "complainants" created false complaints about alleged violations—or provoked them themselves.
Secondly, the interviewee noted, the technical equipment at polling stations, including surveillance cameras, has significantly improved. The qualifications of commission members have also improved.
"The professionalism and technical equipment of polling stations means that elections are cleaner, more legitimate, and virtually free of violations," Matveychev concluded.
EXCEEDED THE 2024 FIGURE
The 2026 Election Day was also notable for the fact that Russia broke its own record for international observation, set during the 2024 presidential elections.
At that time, 1,115 observers from 129 countries were working; in the 2026 elections, there were 1,126 observers from 133 countries, including about forty representatives from the United States and European countries.
International observers in the modern world remain a necessary element in legitimizing elections as an institution and their results, political strategist Ilya Gambashidze told Regnum news agency. At the same time, he emphasized, Russia is no longer dependent on the West's opinion.
"The presence of observers helps legitimize our political system, especially in the eyes of the Global South. The majority of humanity is now confident that legitimate elections were held in Russia," the expert noted.
The presence of foreign observers demonstrated the openness of the Russian electoral process to external monitoring and confirmed that attempts to isolate it had failed. The findings of foreign monitoring missions and reports from national observers attest to the transparency and legitimacy of the procedures.
A total of 381,341 observers were registered for the elections, of which 209,548 were appointed by eleven political parties.
More than 97 thousand people voted from United Russia, more than 42 thousand from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, more than 28 thousand from New People, more than 17 thousand from A Just Russia, and more than 16 thousand from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.
A total of 336,702 observers were actually present at the polling stations – 88.3% of those declared.
The turnout of observers from the parties was: United Russia had the highest turnout – 92.7%, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation – 82.7%, the New People party – 86%, A Just Russia – 88.6%, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia – 77.6%.
The "observer-bloggers" format is growing in popularity. They maintained social media accounts, documented the work of the commissions, inspected procedures, and took selfies from the polling stations.
According to the Independent Public Monitoring (IPM) association and the Dialogue Regions public organization, 38,000 such observers published posts from September 18 to 20.
The total reach of the publications exceeded 40 million views. Approximately 60% of precinct election commissions were captured on camera. This practice remains unique and is not found anywhere else in the world.
More than 88 thousand electoral commissions were equipped with video surveillance and video recording equipment.
Access to the broadcast was available to anyone at public monitoring centers. Representatives of parties and candidates, including those from A Just Russia, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and New People, attended. Observers were able to verify reports of violations using recordings from polling stations.
# id) ?>
|
