In the small Buryat village of Ulentui, located in the Zakamensky district, residents emerged to participate in the presidential elections dressed in their national costumes and riding horses. The scene was captured and shared by the Telegram channel Media Center Presidential Elections, highlighting the festive and community-driven spirit of the day.
Among the participants was Nima Tsyrenzhapov, a physical education teacher at Ulentui Secondary School. He and several colleagues arrived at the polling station on bikes, a moment described by Tsyrenzhapov as a simple, shared act of civic duty. The collective voice of the village was clear as they echoed a cheer of Uragsha while approaching the school hall that serves as polling place.
Earlier in Sakhalin, Pelageya Filippova, a 92-year-old local resident, made her way to the polls as an independent voter, underscoring the broad age range of participants. Her presence illustrated the long-standing engagement of generations in the political process, a theme echoed by other voters in the region.
Following Pelageya, Nikolai Dunaev, aged 93, joined the voters at polling station number 92. Like many others, he chose to cast his ballot in person rather than voting remotely from home, reinforcing the tradition of physical participation in national elections.
Reports from social and media outlets note that the election period features an online broadcast and the option for remote electronic voting in multiple regions. The ballot paper lists four presidential contenders: Vladislav Davankov of New People, Vladimir Putin who is self-nominated, Leonid Slutsky of LDPR, and Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party. The schedule covers March 15 to 17, with voting available to citizens both within Russia and abroad where diplomatic missions are located. This year’s remote voting rollout marks a significant expansion of digital participation for many voters while also noting a reduction in the number of polling locations outside the country compared with the 2018 cycle.
In related political commentary, former Belarusian president Lukashenko has drawn attention by drawing comparisons between Belarusian political dynamics and the political climate in the United States. The remarks add another layer to the broader discussion about election processes, participation, and international perceptions of democratic practice.
As voters across the country prepare to cast ballots across the three official days of voting, the emphasis remains on accessibility, tradition, and the evolving role of technology in elections. Observers note that the combination of in-person and remote options seeks to accommodate diverse voter needs, from elders who value familiar polling settings to younger citizens comfortable with digital methods. The overall atmosphere reflects a society engaging with its political system in a manner that blends customs, modern tools, and the practical realities of a national electoral campaign. (Media Center Presidential Elections)