Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday participated in the country's legislative election by voting online. This election sees tens of millions of Russians heading to the polls to elect members of the 450-seat lower house of parliament, known as the State Duma.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Kremlin released a statement confirming Putin's online vote. The legislative election will determine the members of the ninth convocation of Russia's State Duma. In a video address prior to the election, Putin emphasized the importance of voting as a demonstration of unity and as a contribution to Russia's goals in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which began in February 2022. He encouraged Russians to vote as a collective response against those who aim to weaken Russia and impede its development.

The state news agency Tass reported that voting began in Russia's easternmost regions, Chukotka and Kamchatka, at 8 am local time on Friday. The elections are part of Russia's Single Voting Day, during which voters in eight regions will choose governors or regional heads, and parliamentary elections will be conducted in 39 regions. Additionally, local council elections are scheduled in the administrative centers of 10 regions.

According to Russia's Central Election Commission, approximately 111 million people, including about 1.8 million registered voters abroad, are eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections. Voting will take place at polling stations and through Russia's remote electronic voting system, ending at 8 pm local time on Sunday across the country's various time zones.

Russia, which spans 11 time zones, will see local times ranging from GMT+2 to GMT+12. Eleven political parties are competing in the State Duma election, including the ruling United Russia party and four parties currently holding seats in the Duma: the Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party, A Just Russia-For Truth, and New People. Five parties without current parliamentary representation, including the liberal Yabloko party, are also participating. Although Yabloko was excluded from the party list system, its candidates in single-member constituencies are eligible to run. The State Duma's 450 seats are divided equally between party lists and single-member constituencies.