Why Moscow is turning to remote electronic voting and what it means for voters
In Moscow, a deputy from the City Duma has outlined how remote electronic voting (DEV) could broaden participation in the September elections. The central idea is simple: save time, increase convenience, and reduce barriers to casting a ballot. In a city where life moves quickly, every minute counts, and services that streamline daily tasks are increasingly trusted by residents. People already buy goods online, order taxis, and pay bills with just a few taps. Now, voting can become another habit formed by the same digital rhythm.
Officials argue that electronic voting offers a practical alternative to visiting a polling place on election day. With access through the mos.ru portal, a voter can complete the process in about five minutes, provided there is internet connectivity. The goal is to allow participation from anywhere, rather than confining voters to a specific booth on a set day. This flexibility is particularly appealing for busy city dwellers who want to balance work, family, and civic duties without sacrificing one for the other.
Support for digital voting is rising among Moscow residents. The deputy notes that DEG, the digital voting option, is gaining traction and attracting more voters with every election cycle. He emphasizes that this trend is strongest among the younger generation, raised in an internet era where digital tools are a norm, not an exception. Yet there is acknowledgment that older residents also respond positively to electronic voting. A poll conducted by the sociological group Russian Field revealed that 42.6% of Moscow voters prefer online voting. The age breakdown shows the highest appetite among those under 29 (61%), followed by ages 30 to 44 (59%), and ages 45 to 59 (46%). These figures illustrate a broadening base of digital voters beyond the traditional tech crowd.
Beyond the voting method itself, attention is drawn to the electronic voter list, or ESI, which is designed to improve security and transparency in the electoral process. The system is intended to minimize human error by speeding up data verification and ensuring voters are not misplaced in paper records. The electronic list can locate voter data more quickly than a human registrar and helps prevent misallocation of names on lists. Importantly, the ESI maintains voter privacy by recording only that a ballot was issued, rather than revealing who was voted for. In this way, it supports both accuracy and confidentiality in the voting process.
A further improvement highlighted by proponents is the removal of the need for pre-registration to participate in online voting. On election day, voters can choose to cast their ballot either at a traditional polling place or remotely via the mos.ru portal. This flexibility is framed as expanding access to the electoral process while preserving the option for conventional participation for those who prefer it. The overarching aim is to provide a clear, efficient pathway to vote that fits modern lifestyles while safeguarding the integrity of the election.
Historical context and logistical details anchor the discussion. Elections in Moscow for local self-government representatives are scheduled to take place from September 9 to 11. The process will involve the selection of municipal deputies across numerous multi-member constituencies within Moscow, including the Troitsk urban district. In total, more than a thousand seats are up for grabs across hundreds of precincts, presenting a substantial opportunity for residents to shape local governance. Observers and officials alike are watching closely to see how digital voting will influence turnout, engagement, and the representativeness of the elected bodies. The adoption of remote electronic voting is characterized as a milestone in the modernization of municipal democracy, aligning practical convenience with the principles of accessibility and transparency. (Source: Russian Field survey on voter preferences)