Russia votes amid war and crisis

Parliamentary elections run Sept. 18-20, 2026, as Russia faces energy shortages, battlefield losses in Ukraine, and fears of more conscription.

The outcome is never in doubt

Putin's United Russia party will certainly win. The Kremlin won't allow anything less, as defeat would signal disloyalty and opposition to the war.

Russians are feeling gloomy

A war meant to last days has dragged on for years. Ukrainian drone attacks, rising inflation, and growing unemployment are taking their toll.

United Russia's support is cratering

Public opinion polls show support hovering around 32%, the lowest since the February 2022 invasion. Even that number is likely inflated by fear.

“United Russia's popularity has been hovering around 32% in public opinion polls. It is the lowest figure since the full invasion of Ukraine.”

No massive fraud needed

The Kremlin doesn't need to engage in massive vote fraud. It uses coercive tactics and pressures managers to ensure workers support the government.

Three days to manipulate results

Voting over three days lets officials monitor counts and adjust them. Online voting also helps hide manipulation from public view.

No independent observers allowed

The election watchdog GOLOS was disbanded under Kremlin pressure. European monitors weren't invited to observe this election.

The Kremlin picks who can run

Russia has 19 parties, but only 10 are on the ballot. All were handpicked because they won't challenge the government with opposition legislation.

Navalny's foundation was destroyed

The Anti-Corruption Foundation built a national organization to mount electoral challenges. The Kremlin declared it extremist in 2021.

Anti-war party briefly allowed, then banned

Yabloko, the only anti-war party, was initially approved to compete. The Central Election Commission quickly reversed its decision.

Protest voting from exile

Navalny's foundation, now in exile, plans to use a modified Smart Vote app to coordinate protest voting and spoiled ballots.

Low turnout will signal discontent

The Kremlin has lowered expectations for turnout. A weak showing will signal Russians' true feelings about the war and the government.

“A lower turnout or an underwhelming winning margin for the party will be taken by Russians to be a clear signal of the true state of support for the war.”