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Constitutional amendments vote in Russia: RT special coverage Russians vote in favor of changes to constitution enabling Putin to remain as president until 2036 – preliminary results
(32 minutes later)
Russians headed to the polls on the last day of voting on amendments to the country’s constitution. Citizens have had plenty of time to express their will, as early voting started June 25 and July 1 was declared a holiday. After 30 percent of the votes have been counted, preliminary results show that 74.1 percent of Russian people have supported a package of constitutional amendments, completely transforming Russia's most important legal document.
Among other things, the proposed amendments would transfer more power to Russia’s two houses of parliament, as well as potentially allow Vladimir Putin to run for the presidency two more times. After a week of online and in-person voting, at a turnout of over 60 percent, a majority of the electorate decided that changing the constitution would be beneficial for the country. 
Initially scheduled for April 22, the vote was postponed until July 1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government allowed voters to go to their polling stations up to a week before the final date, in order to reduce crowds and restrict the spread of coronavirus. Citizens in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, two of the cities most affected by the virus, were also given the option to cast their ballot online. The 206 amendments range from social issues like pensions to rules for government officials. The one that has received most media attention redefines eligibility for the presidency. In theory, it would allow President Vladimir Putin to run for office two more times, potentially staying in power until 2036. 
You can watch RT’s special coverage of the vote here: Preliminary results also show 24.9 percent of Russians opposing the changes.
Initially planned for April 22, and postponed to July 1 due to Covid-19, the all-Russian vote took place over a week, and, for the first time ever, in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, voters were allowed to cast their ballots online.
The amendments were already approved by the legislature before being put up for a national vote.
Other changes include the regular indexation of pensions for inflation and a guaranteed minimum wage above subsistence level; the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman; a ban on top government officials from holding foreign passports; and restricting future presidents to serving only two terms. There was some controversy about the new constitution also including a mention of God, in regards to the country’s heritage.
The newly-amended constitution also marks a slight shift away from the hyper-presidential system, introduced by former President Boris Yeltsin in 1993. By redistributing some powers to other government organs, both Russia's lower and upper houses of parliament now have the opportunity to propose and approve of certain officials.
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