Photo – Telegram channel of the Moscow Public Election Observation Headquarters
By now, 2.6 million people have voted in the elections to the Moscow City Duma. This year, the elections will last for three days, from 6 to 8 September, and the main voting method is electronic.
As representatives of the Moscow City Duma said earlier, voters were warned in advance: in order to receive a paper ballot, they must write a corresponding application before September 2. However, not everyone has heard about this innovation. Most unusual situations at polling stations are related to the requirement to issue a ballot paper. But, as deputies from different parties admit, such situations are resolved quickly and easily: “supporters of voting the old-fashioned way” are asked to write a statement on the spot to exclude them from the “electronic” lists and add them to the “paper” lists, thereby preventing the possibility of a repeat vote.
COMFORT OF CHOICE
In the meantime, there are few “adherents” in the capital; most people choose the electronic voting method. Either through the appropriate terminal at the polling stations (about 200 thousand people used it during two days of voting), or online from a smartphone or computer (2.3 million people).
“I also voted from my smartphone, I did it on Friday without stopping work,” admitted Denis Protsenko, director of the Kommunarka center today. – I think that this is very convenient and the future lies in electronic voting.
Denis Protsenko also drew attention to the possibility of voting at home, which is extremely important for citizens with reduced mobility, and there are many of them in the capital. The electoral commission can come to the voter’s home upon request, either with paper ballots or with a small suitcase containing a portable electronic voting terminal.
ELECTIONS UNDER SUPERVISION
Last night, online voting did not stop and public observers watched closed polling stations without a wink of sleep.
– About 100,000 Muscovites voted online overnight. No incidents were reported at polling stations, said Vadim Kovalev, head of the election monitoring center. – About two dozen attacks on the electronic voting system have been recorded, but they did not damage it. We thank everyone who took part in the test voting – the system is working properly.
At 8 a.m. on September 8, 1,440 polling stations reopened and will remain open until 8 p.m.
– On the last day of voting we expect an increase in the number of voters, including at the polling stations. Many are used to voting on Sunday, and people will also return from their dachas, said Vadim Kovalev.
Moreover, the turnout in these elections to the Moscow City Duma has already surpassed the previous one. The last time deputies were elected was five years ago, and then about 1.5 million people took part in the vote. This year, 2.6 million have already voted. Experts attribute this to the fact that the electronic voting system has made the process as fast and convenient as possible.
In addition, today all participants in the electronic voting are entered into the drawing of prize points (more details on the “Million Prizes” website). Since the start of voting, more than a million people have already earned between 1,000 and 5,000 reward points (each point equals one ruble), which they can now spend on checks in shops, cafes, restaurants, museums, etc.
