Russians begin voting in controlled election as war drags

MOSCOW—On Friday morning, polling stations across Russia's Far East opened their doors, signaling the start of a three-day election that is virtually certain to be won by President Vladimir Putin's party. This marks Russia's first parliamentary vote since the country sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands.

Notably, only parties that back Putin and the Kremlin's ongoing military campaign have been allowed to run. Moscow has also set up voting booths in occupied Ukraine. While the outcome is widely anticipated, this election provides the Kremlin with a chance to measure public opinion on the war, an issue that has grown more pressing this year.

The vote, which will elect 450 members to Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, is set to continue until 6 PM GMT on Sunday. The first of Russia's 11 time zones to cast their ballots are those of Kamchatka peninsula and Chukotka, located on the Pacific Ocean. President Putin, who has governed Russia since New Year's Eve 1999, has led the United Russia party to dominance in Russian politics since the early 2000s.