Moscow, Sept 20 (RIA Novosti/GNA) – More than 200,000 people cast ballots abroad in Russia’s State Duma elections as of 7:00 p.m. Moscow time (16:00 GMT) on Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Ivanov said.
“Voting has already ended, and the ballot count is underway. As of 19:00 today, taking into account early voting and three-day voting, the total number of voters exceeded 212,000.
According to our forecasts, the final figure for overseas voting this time will significantly exceed the figures of the previous Duma elections,” Ivanov said.
The deputy minister added that the final turnout in overseas voting was projected to significantly exceed the 192,000 total of the previous Duma elections in 2021.
Such public mobilization proves that despite all interference attempts, the hybrid war and the harshly toxic information background of Western media, Russian citizens remain politically active and trust the electoral system, the diplomat added.
Elections to the lower house of the Russian parliament, along with other concurrent elections, are taking place nationwide from September 18-20. In total, 20,700 parliamentary seats and elected offices are expected to be filled.
President Vladimir Putin has called the parliamentary elections the most important domestic political event.
GNA/RIA Novosti