The City Election Commission confirmed that any spoiled ballots found at polling stations in Moscow will be kept for later examination. This measure ensures that all declarations of intention can be reviewed and properly accounted for during the vote counting process. In parallel, officials noted that ballot boxes are currently sealed, and the counting of votes will proceed only if the entries are legible and readable on the ballots themselves. This step is meant to maintain accuracy and transparency in the vote tallies as the process unfolds.
Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Nikolai Bulaev, remarked that spoiling ballot papers can have a measurable negative impact on the overall election result when margins are tight. He emphasized that several ballot boxes across the country contain bright green ballots that have drawn attention for being marked in an unusual way. Reports indicate that at least five ballot boxes nationwide have contained this distinctive green material. Similar incidents have been recorded in the Rostov region, Karachay-Cchekessia, the Voronezh region, and Moscow, highlighting a pattern that election officials are monitoring closely. [RIA News]
Voting for the presidential election commenced in Russia and was scheduled to continue through March 17. Observers and online publications provided ongoing coverage of the first day of voting, sharing updates on turnout, queue lengths, and the general flow of ballots as people cast their votes. [socialbites.ca]
Earlier in Moscow, an alarm was raised when a voting booth caught fire, prompting questions about safety and the integrity of the voting environment. Officials moved quickly to secure the area and ensure that the incident did not affect the tally or the availability of voting options for residents. [RIA News]