Russia Election 2026: United Russia Leads With 57.5% in Early Results

The Russia Election 2026 is heading toward a victory for President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party, which has received 57.5% of the vote in initial results. The three-day parliamentary election ended on Sunday after voting was held from September 18 to 20.

The final results are due by September 25th. The election will determine the makeup of Russia’s 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, and is the first parliamentary poll since Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia Election 2026 Held During Ukraine War

The election took held while the war in Ukraine was ongoing. Putin praised the vote as a show of public support for Russia’s military and its current political path.

Before the voting began, Putin stated that the outcome will determine if millions of Russians continued to support the country’s warriors and shared national values. He did not run for president in the election and will not be eligible again until 2030.

United Russia won 324 of the 450 seats in the preceding State Duma election in 2021. The party’s strong position has refocused attention on how many seats it will have after the final count is finished.

The election was held in a highly regulated political atmosphere. The Yabloko party, Russia’s sole registered anti-war party, was barred from participating in the federal party-list election following a Supreme Court decision last month.

Turnout Reaches 56.66% as Voting Ends

Russia’s Central Election Commission reported a total voter turnout of 56.66%. Moscow likewise saw a large turnout throughout the three-day election period.

The final seat distribution in the election will be keenly monitored once the count is completed. With little substantial opposition to the Kremlin’s participation, turnout and the ultimate makeup of the State Duma are critical aspects of the outcome.

Voting also took place outside of Russia. Russian people living in India were entitled to vote at five voting stations: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Goa. Denis Alipov, the Russian ambassador, also voted in New Delhi.

The final day of voting coincided with a significant wave of drone assaults related to the war in Ukraine. According to Russian officials, Ukraine launched over 1,000 drones against Moscow and surrounding areas, killing at least two people and causing damage to a major oil refinery.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attacks were designed to disrupt the election. Ukraine has not independently confirmed such allegations.

After the final results are published, the number of seats won by United Russia and other parties will determine the composition of the next State Duma. The entire outcome is likely to be completed by September 25.