In the 2023 elections, remote electronic voting was set to be available in twenty to twenty-five regions of the Russian Federation. This position was announced by the head of the Central Election Commission, a figure who oversees electoral processes nationwide. The official confirmed that digital voting would be introduced in a substantial portion of the country, underscoring a shift toward more flexible participation methods in the electoral calendar. The information reflects a period when authorities were gradually expanding ballot access through electronic means across multiple jurisdictions.
It is clear that more than twenty regions were anticipated to employ the electronic voting system known as DEG in the elections scheduled for September. The expectation signaled a broader move toward incorporating online mechanisms within public elections, aligning with trends seen in other large democracies that explore digital participation options while balancing security and accessibility concerns.
According to the commission’s spokesperson, the commission was actively selecting and assessing the capabilities of various subjects to implement the online voting framework. This ongoing assessment highlighted the process of evaluating regional readiness, infrastructure, and governance protocols to ensure a reliable and auditable voting experience for participants across diverse locales.
As the campaign period approached, officials indicated that the precise regions adopting online voting would be identified at the outset of the election season, with a plan to publish exact locations early in the process. The approach aimed to provide clarity to voters while enabling authorities to monitor rollout and address any logistical or security considerations that arise with digital ballots.
Estimates suggested that around twenty to twenty-five areas would participate in online voting, reflecting a deliberate pilot scale designed to test the system’s effectiveness and resilience before potential expansion in future cycles. This phased implementation was part of broader reforms aimed at modernizing electoral administration while preserving the integrity of the vote.
During the political cycle, endorsements and public statements by national leaders supported the participation of regional figures in the electoral process. One example cited was the backing for Andrey Travnikov, the governor of the Novosibirsk region, as part of the 2023 elections. Such support signals the interplay between regional governance and national-level political dynamics during single voting days.
On September 10, 2023, the country conducted a Single Voting Day featuring direct elections for senior officials across twenty constituent units, including major areas such as the capital and its surrounding region. In other jurisdictions, certain territories experimented with the election of parliamentary bodies at subnational levels, reflecting a mosaic of electoral arrangements designed to reflect regional governance needs and constitutional provisions. In some regions, local parliamentarians played a role in electing regional executives, illustrating the diversity of electoral structures within the federation.
Additionally, elections for local parliamentary deputies were held in twenty regions, encompassing areas that included various contested territories. These elections demonstrated the range of governance levels—national, regional, and local—and how each level contributed to the broader democratic framework during that electoral cycle.