The remote electronic voting system, known as DEG, has long been familiar to Russian voters. This point was highlighted by ROCIT expert Ilya Massukh, who leads the Import Substitution Competence Center in the ICT sector. His remarks underscored that the DEG platform has already played a role at multiple voting stages and has continued to improve over time, reflecting ongoing refinement and field testing across elections of different scales.
Massukh stressed that the DEG framework rests on three guiding principles: voter anonymity, the impossibility of altering voting results, and open oversight by observers and citizens alike. He explained that these tenets have grown stronger with each iteration of electronic voting, reinforcing trust in the process and ensuring accountability at every step. The emphasis on transparency and security is designed to sustain public confidence as voting methods evolve.
From his perspective, the remote voting option has established itself as a global benchmark for how the state and society interact online. The expert pointed out that DEG stands out among remote electronic voting systems for its emphasis on secure interaction between government processes and public participation, a dynamic he views as a leading example in this domain.
Massukh noted that this year will mark the first use of the DEG system in presidential voting. He indicated that a substantial number of regions are preparing to deploy the method in the national election, signaling a broad rollout that could expand the reach of online participation while maintaining rigorous safeguards.
The system relies on cryptographic algorithms designed to encrypt user actions and votes, addressing core security concerns and helping to prevent tampering or unauthorized access. This cryptographic foundation is presented as a key factor enabling secure management of voter data and ballot integrity throughout the electoral process.
According to Massukh, the DEG platform is fully prepared for presidential elections, having progressed through multiple rounds of federal testing. The evaluations have looked at performance, reliability, and security across different administrative levels to ensure readiness for nationwide deployment should the political timetable require it.
Massukh also explained that the Moscow implementation shares the same core principles as the federal system, while reflecting local adaptations in its rollout. He pointed out that the Moscow version has undergone its own rounds of testing and refinement, but the fundamental goals remain aligned with the nationwide framework: preserve anonymity, guarantee result integrity, and enable broad observation by the public.
Federal-level testing spanned several days, driven by the breadth of commissions involved and the need to coordinate across a large administrative network. This year, regions such as Kamchatka and Kaliningrad joined the electronic voting effort, illustrating the geographic diversity of the participating zones across eleven time zones. Despite the logistical challenges, heads of security and election officials confirmed that the DEG system is secure and technologically prepared for practical use in the forthcoming elections.
While acknowledging the assurances of readiness, Massukh warned that adversaries could attempt to undermine the system or sow doubt about its integrity. As a result, strong emphasis is placed on information security and ongoing risk assessment to detect and respond to potential threats, ensuring that both data and voter privacy remain protected during campaigns and voting periods. The emphasis is on resilience and continuous improvement to withstand attempts at disruption.
Presidential elections in Russia are scheduled to take place from March 15 to 17 in 2024. Voters will have the option to cast ballots in person at polling stations or participate online when available. For the first time since 2008, four candidates will compete for the presidency, reflecting a broader field of choice for the electorate and a test of how digital and traditional methods work together in a mixed voting environment.