The Central Election Commission has begun a nationwide training initiative to assess the readiness of the GAS “Elections” 2.0 digital platform for the single voting day scheduled on September 8. This update was shared via the commission’s telegram channel, providing the public with a concise briefing on the exercise and its aims.
A total of 77 election commissions from the constituent regions of the Russian Federation, where elections are planned in September, will participate in the simulation. The exercise is designed to test the end-to-end workflow from candidate selection to final results reporting, ensuring that the new system can perform under real-world workload conditions and meet regulatory requirements.
The primary objectives include evaluating how effectively the automated selection process operates, how the regulatory and reference subsystems interact, the functionality of the Internet portal, and the reliability of participant records management. By running through these scenarios, officials can identify gaps, verify data integrity, and confirm that the platform can handle concurrent access and large data volumes without disruption.
Decisions on launching GAS “Choices” 2.0 will follow the results of the training. The exercise is framed as a critical step in confirming that the digital ecosystem can support transparent, accurate, and timely information flow throughout the voting process.
The commission notes that the updated system is designed to deliver real-time, up-to-date information about voting participants and to provide centralized access to essential data. This centralized approach aims to streamline administrative processes, support faster reporting, and improve accountability across the election administration network.
GAS “Choices” 2.0 is built on Russian software solutions and is intended to preserve full functional continuity with the current system, ensuring a smooth transition if the new platform is adopted. The emphasis is on reliability, data security, and user-friendly interfaces that can be deployed across diverse regional contexts without compromising performance.
Officials have stressed that the results of this training will guide the strategic deployment plan, including timelines, risk mitigation measures, and training needs for staff at all levels. The exercise also serves as a test of crisis response capabilities, ensuring that contingency procedures are in place should any technical issue arise on or before the voting date.
While the training is framed within the Russian electoral framework, observers and analysts will be watching closely to evaluate how digital platforms can support large-scale, nationwide elections. The outcome will influence future modernization efforts, data governance practices, and the overall trust in the electoral process as more components migrate to integrated, automated systems.
As the testing window progresses, administrators will review logs, system alerts, and user feedback to determine readiness. The final assessment will determine whether GAS “Choices” 2.0 should be rolled out for the September voting day and potentially extended to additional regions or future elections, depending on performance and compliance with regulatory standards. The exercise underscores a broader commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency in modern election administration.
Analysts will likely compare the new platform’s capabilities against established benchmarks, including data accuracy, reporting latency, and the resilience of the online portal under peak usage. The overarching goal is to ensure that voters and officials can rely on the system to provide timely, correct information when it matters most, contributing to a smoother and more trustworthy electoral process for all participants involved.