Russians will head to the polls in September to elect a new State Duma and regional officials in a vote that the ruling United Russia party is expected to dominate but which could offer insight into how four years of war in Ukraine have reshaped the country’s political landscape.
The vote comes at a fraught time. The war is taking a mounting toll on the economy, while long-range Ukrainian drone strikes have led to a widespread fuel crisis. Half of Russians now describe the political climate as “tense.”
Russia’s regions have reportedly been instructed to secure high voter turnout and a majority win for United Russia. Nevertheless, the vote remains an important instrument for the Kremlin to project popular legitimacy and demonstrate support for President Vladimir Putin and United Russia as both face unstable approval ratings.
Reports have suggested the Kremlin could announce another round of mobilization after the elections, making a convincing electoral victory politically important for the ruling party. Other reports claim that senior officials were allegedly seeking to convince Putin to postpone the State Duma elections due to the Ukrainian drone campaign, though the Kremlin has denied this.
