Digital Voting and its Impact on Moscow Elections
Alexander Asafov, a political scientist and member of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, has spoken about the potential of remote electronic voting to boost turnout in elections. He notes that electronic voting methods have already appeared in Moscow and that their presence has correlated with higher participation in certain ballots.
During the 2020 electoral cycle, DEG was utilized in the Maryino and Babushkinsky districts. Asafov observed that turnout rose noticeably when voters could cast ballots electronically, compared with municipal elections and even the State Duma vote. According to him, the convenience of voting remotely attracted participants who might not have voted otherwise, including first-time voters and those unable to reach polling stations for various reasons.
Asafov adds that residents of Moscow are increasingly accustomed to interacting with public services through digital channels. The city’s residents routinely connect to free Wi‑Fi, access services on mos.ru, and use Gosuslugi for government-related tasks. He emphasizes that most people find it easier to complete voting tasks on a phone or computer, and many appreciate the option to vote remotely even if they are not actively following upcoming elections. He notes that awareness of the DEG option can precede awareness of any specific election, underscoring its potential to drive engagement.
In a landmark step, Moscow is set to test an electronic voter list for the first time in the country. Ballot boxes will be outfitted with computing devices, and the system will automatically verify and record ballot paper issuance. Asafov stresses that this electronic voter list can address several longstanding issues in vote counting. He points out that errors can arise from double-voting attempts and human data-entry mistakes, especially in a city with a population in the millions. An online, continually updated voter registry can streamline processes and reduce these problems, he argues.
Even among skeptics, the DEG concept has shown signs of changing opinions. Asafov cites the example of the Communist Party, which resisted DEG in 2021 but later benefited from electronic voting in the same year. He suggests that many critics may eventually acknowledge the benefits of digital voting as the system matures and more people experience its convenience and reliability.
Looking ahead, Moscow plans to hold elections from September 9 to September 11 for representative bodies of local self-government. A total of 1,417 municipal deputies will be elected within 313 multi-member constituencies spread across 124 districts of Moscow and the Troitsk urban district. To participate in online voting, residents must have a full account on the mos.ru portal, and the DEG option can be confirmed in a dedicated section within a user’s personal account. This framework is designed to make remote voting more accessible while maintaining safeguards that ensure ballot integrity. The anticipation around DEG reflects a broader trend toward digital governance and increased voter participation across urban centers in Russia, with Moscow often serving as a testing ground for innovative voting technologies. For researchers and observers, the evolving DEG landscape provides a valuable case study in how digital services intersect with democratic participation. [citation attribution: political analysis and local government communications]