This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/468347-russia-local-elections-voting/

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Russians go to polls in local elections held after weeks of Moscow protests Nationwide local elections wind up in Russia after weeks of Moscow protests
(about 3 hours later)
Voters across Russia go to the polls this Sunday, with multiple seats up for grabs in local parliaments and executive bodies. Most attention is on the Moscow council vote, which was plagued by opposition rallies in recent weeks. People across Russia have cast their votes in Sunday’s elections to fill seats in local parliaments and executive bodies. Most attention was on the Moscow council vote, which was plagued by opposition rallies in recent weeks.
Polling stations opened up on Sunday morning in the European part of Russia, Siberia, Crimea and the Far East, allowing people to vote for municipal council members, mayors and governors in the much-anticipated 2019 local elections. From the Far East to the most western Kaliningrad region, voters were making their choices of municipal council members, mayors and governors in 85 regions and cities. Yet the most closely watched race was in Moscow, where voters were to elect the 45-seat legislature that will run the capital during the next five years.
Although voting incorporates as many as 85 regions and cities, the most closely watched race is in Moscow, where voters will elect the 45-seat legislature that will run the capital during the next five years.
The vote in Moscow comes on the heels of opposition to the contentious procedure, after election officials had disqualified numerous candidates, for misdeeds such as failing to declare overseas properties and for presenting signatures of deceased or non-existent voters in order to achieve eligibility to appear on the ballot papers.The vote in Moscow comes on the heels of opposition to the contentious procedure, after election officials had disqualified numerous candidates, for misdeeds such as failing to declare overseas properties and for presenting signatures of deceased or non-existent voters in order to achieve eligibility to appear on the ballot papers.
The ban saw tens of thousands of Muscovites join sanctioned and unsanctioned protests, which have been taking place almost every weekend since the disqualifications. Some of the rallies ended up in clashes. The ban saw tens of thousands of Muscovites join sanctioned and unsanctioned protests, which have been taking place almost every weekend since the disqualifications.
Police made over 2,000 detentions during unauthorized protests in late July and early August, according to the Interior Ministry and activists figures. Most of the detainees were promptly released, but a number of them were charged with attacking officers and disrupting public safety. Some of the rallies ended up in clashes and police made over 2,000 detentions during unauthorized protests in late July and early August. Most of the detainees were promptly released, but a number of them were charged with attacking officers and disrupting public safety.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have been put on alert on Sunday to provide security during the vote; the entire process proceeded calmly, with, at the time of writing, no scuffles reported in Moscow or other locations. The voting day itself was without incident, even though law enforcement agencies had been put on alert.
By Sunday evening there were two complaints about election interference out of 142 issues reported during the voting process, the central election commission said. Most complaints regarded people failing to find themselves on voter lists.By Sunday evening there were two complaints about election interference out of 142 issues reported during the voting process, the central election commission said. Most complaints regarded people failing to find themselves on voter lists.
There were reports on social media about violations by various activists, but these can't be independently verified. The Civic Chamber also said that it had failed to detect any “significant” violations during Election Day.There were reports on social media about violations by various activists, but these can't be independently verified. The Civic Chamber also said that it had failed to detect any “significant” violations during Election Day.
The online voting system, which was tested in Moscow, experienced technical problems on two occasions on Sunday and had to be briefly shut down. Authorities confirmed that no ballots had been lost due to the glitches. However, around 200 attempts were made to exploit the malfunctions and submit votes without proper registration. They were averted.The online voting system, which was tested in Moscow, experienced technical problems on two occasions on Sunday and had to be briefly shut down. Authorities confirmed that no ballots had been lost due to the glitches. However, around 200 attempts were made to exploit the malfunctions and submit votes without proper registration. They were averted.
The police have also launched a probe into a female member of a local election commission being sprayed with green dye in the city of Volgograd.The police have also launched a probe into a female member of a local election commission being sprayed with green dye in the city of Volgograd.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Subscribe to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media won’t tell you.Subscribe to RT newsletter to get stories the mainstream media won’t tell you.