The turnout in the elections of deputies to the Moscow City Duma on the second day of the elections was 33.6%
Photo: Alexandra BUDAEVA. Go to Photobank KP
MOSCOW SPACE
– Moscow is visible even from space due to its size. And it can be recognized by its rings: if they are orange-red, then the city is stuck in night traffic jams,” answers one of the most popular questions State Duma deputy, cosmonaut pilot and Hero of Russia Roman Romanenko. On September 7, he stopped by the election observation center and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere: the people called to investigate possible violations at polling stations turned out to be infinitely friendly.
Interestingly, there were no violations or conflicts that could have affected the outcome of the election during the two days of voting. There were separate complaints: the list of candidates was hung on the wrong wall, the food is tasteless, the video camera is pointed at the electronic voting terminal (TEG) and can record a person’s choice (a check showed that this was not the case, but a commission from the Headquarters went there and, to avoid questions in the future, the terminal is slightly unfolded).
But there are attacks on the electronic voting system: more than 200 in a couple of days:
– Some 2,700 suspicious IP addresses were also identified. They have no geographic location, but they are looking for vulnerabilities in our electronic voting system,” explained Alexandr Asafov, deputy head of the Public Office for Election Monitoring.
Chief of the General Staff Vadim Kovalev also expressed his “thanks” to all Muscovites who took part in the test vote, during which they prepared the system for various surprises. Thanks to this, it can withstand all attacks.
“DIGITAL” IS A PRIORITY
For three days, from September 6 to 8, residents of the capital elect deputies to the Moscow City Duma, and in Novy Moscow and Kurkino – municipal deputies as well. This can be done in different ways: anywhere – from a smartphone or computer, at any polling station – via an electronic voting terminal (EVT), at the polling station at the place of registration – using a paper ballot, if the corresponding application was submitted before September 2. If it is not submitted, the voter will be asked to write it down at the polling station itself, so that there is a reason to “cross it out” from the “electronic” lists and include it in the “paper” lists. This blocks the possibility of voting again with the same name.
– I didn’t vote at my polling station. But when I scanned my passport, TEG automatically showed me the candidates from my district,” said Russian singer and businessman Timati. – When I was younger, I thought that only the presidential elections mattered. Now I understand: electing your deputies is no less important: I see how the city is changing and I want it to continue to develop. The future, in my opinion, is digital. Now even the older generation has smartphones that they actively use. On the site itself, if necessary, they will help you do everything correctly. When voting online, the most difficult thing (and I know this, I checked it in March) is going through all the stages of registration. But children and grandchildren can help pensioners with this. Then everything is simple: a few “clicks” and that’s it!
Today, the Director General of the Moscow Zoo, Svetlana Akulova, also spoke about the interest of the older generation in modern technologies:
– When I posted a post on social media about how I voted, comments started coming in. It’s clear from them that people like electronic voting. Including pensioners. Because you don’t have to leave the country house when the weather is nice. Because you don’t have to leave the house at all. You can also retire to a room to quietly study all the candidates and make an informed decision.
BECAUSE THEY TRUST
A total of 2.6 million ballots were cast over two days of voting. Almost 100,000 people voted by paper ballot. More than 200,000 people used electronic voting terminals. The remaining 2.3 million people are voting online.
– In the last elections to the Moscow City Duma, 5 years ago, about 1.5 million people voted and the turnout was 21.77%. It is already clear that the turnout in these elections is higher – about 33.6%,” Alexander Asafov noted. “We attribute this not only to the fact that Muscovites have become more responsible in elections, but also to the fact that the voting processes themselves have become more convenient: five years ago, electronic voting was available in three districts, now in total – 45.”
As for the elections in Kurkino and TiNAO, the situation is as follows: 176.4 thousand votes were cast, 3.6 thousand of them on paper, 172.8 thousand in the TEG and the rest online.
The third day of the elections is approaching. Online voting does not end at night. Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. Muscovites will vote until 8 p.m., after which the counting of votes will begin. Komsomolskaya Pravda is following the developments.
