Proof that Russia’s 2026 State Duma elections were the dirtiest parliamentary elections of the Putin era
The final results of the State Duma election are not in yet. Russia’s Central Election Commission still has not published returns from every precinct: as of the evening of September 23, data for the Leningrad region and the occupied regions were missing. Even so, the available figures show how this election differs from previous ones. It was the least fair Duma election of the Putin era, yet it…
Russia's 2026 State Duma elections are being called the dirtiest of the Putin era, despite the final results not yet being released. According to preliminary data, the election appears less fair than expected. This is a stark contrast to the 2024 presidential election, which had more anomalies. United Russia's support appears to have remained steady since 2021.
The distribution of voting results has changed significantly compared to previous Duma elections, with a denser "comet tail" of precincts exhibiting a more uniform distribution of votes. This shift suggests a notable rise in United Russia's vote share, from around 30% to approximately 35% since 2021. A unique feature of this election is the emergence of a vertical "column" of Moscow precincts where voters cast their ballots on paper. This pattern is currently under investigation to determine if it indicates election manipulation.
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