Moscow authorities plan to increase the number of online voters in the elections to the State Duma to 2 million people

The Moscow Mayor’s Office plans to increase the number of participants in electronic voting in the elections to the State Duma to 2 million people. About the relevant KPIs of RBC reported sources in the government.

The main motive of the mayor’s office is to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus, as face-to-face voting at polling stations increases the likelihood of contact with people infected with COVID-19. “Any election is always a mass event, especially considering that in recent years there has been a trend towards an increase in civic engagement in Moscow,” said Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

To attract people to remote voting, officials will launch the Million Prizes – #Choosing Together program: 100 cars and 20 apartments will be raffled, said an interlocutor of RBC close to the mayor’s office. Muscovites who voted online will also be able to receive discount certificates at Magnit, Dixy, Lenta, Azbuka Vkusa, Detsky Mir, Sportmaster and pharmacy chains.

By increasing the number of those who intend to vote electronically, Moscow expects to receive a higher percentage of votes for United Russia, the sources said. The desired result of United Russia in the capital is 34-37%, the ideal model is 35% to 35% (the result of the ruling party and the turnout, respectively). Initially, according to the interlocutor, it was about the bar of 1 million people, but it was decided to raise it to 2 million – including because of plans to launch a drawing.

State Duma elections are scheduled for fall 2021. Due to the pandemic, voting will be three days – from 17 to 19 September. Residents of Moscow, Sevastopol, as well as Nizhny Novgorod, Kursk, Yaroslavl, Murmansk and Rostov regions will be able to vote online. This year, the CEC for the first time decided to refuse from the public broadcast of the vote, citing lack of funds. Now the broadcasts will be available only to “participants in the political process”. Lawyer and co-chairman of the Golos movement Andrei Buzin in a conversation with The Insider notedthat the CEC decision discredits the principle of fair and transparent elections, and also once again proves the existence of violations in the voting process.

At the end of May, the United Russia primaries were held. In Moscow, as the media wrote, candidates supported by the party won in all districts. By data VTsIOM, the electoral rating of United Russia in the country as of mid-August was 27.3% – this is one of the lowest values ​​since 2006. By data FOM, 30% of Russians are ready to vote for the party in power. According to data Levada Center, 28% of those who, in principle, will go to the polls intend to vote for the party. Early August The Republic wrotethat Moscow state employees are forced to register for online elections to the State Duma. Each employee is required to register three more friends or relatives to participate in remote voting.