Voting starts in Russian presidential elections

Russians start voting for the three-day presidential election, with over 112 million voters and four candidates, including incumbent President Vladimir Putin, amid predictions of his likely fifth-term win

The upcoming Russian presidential election on March 17, 2024, will span three days, a first in the country’s history, with voting occurring on March 15, 16, and 17.

With over 112 million voters expected to participate, this election features four candidates.

Among them is the current Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the sole self-nominated candidate. The remaining candidates, Vladislav Davankov, Leonid Slutsky, and Nikolay Kharitonov, were nominated by parliamentary political parties. While Putin is an independent candidate, the others represent the parties endorsing their candidacy.

Notably, Davankov, who is running from the New People party, is the deputy speaker of the State Duma, while Slutsky and Kharitonov chair the Duma committees.

Kharitonov stands as the oldest candidate at 75 years and 4 months on election day, while Davankov, the youngest, will turn 40 on March 17, 2024.

Voting will also take place in the four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia – that Russia illegally annexed on Sept. 30, 2022.

Predictions strongly favor Putin securing a fifth term in office.

Putin served as Russia’s president from 2000 to 2008. He was the head of government from 1999 to 2008 and was elected president again in 2012.

Additionally, nearly 1.9 million Russian voters abroad will cast their ballots in the country’s foreign missions. The election will be closely monitored by over 200 international observers from 36 countries and five international organizations.

Source: Newsroom