Voting has officially started in Russia for the parliamentary elections, which will take place over a three-day period from September 18 to September 20. The election is crucial as it marks the first parliamentary vote since the onset of the conflict with Ukraine in February 2022.

Polling stations opened in the Far East regions of Russia on September 18, with the official voting day set for September 20. The first areas to cast their votes include the Kamchatka Peninsula and Chukotka, located on the Pacific coast.

In total, 450 representatives will be elected to the new State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. This includes 225 representatives elected through federal party lists and 225 from single-member electoral districts. Each voter will receive two ballots: one for selecting a party and another for choosing a specific candidate.

Notably, for the first time, residents of four regions of Ukraine—Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Lugansk—that Russia claims to have annexed will also participate in the voting process. Voting is also occurring in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 following controversial referendums.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described this election as a pivotal moment that will help to “shape the future” of the country. He emphasized the importance of each voter’s voice, expressing confidence that “the most deserving and capable candidates” will emerge victorious.