Story perspectives

Moscow polling machines fail, forcing paper ballots in elections

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 2:48 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Supreme Court bans Yabloko

Electronic voting machines malfunctioned at multiple Moscow polling stations on Friday, September 18, 2026, during Russia’s parliamentary elections.
The Russian Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from appearing on the State Duma party-list ballot.
Election officials could not reboot the terminals, prompting several stations to revert to paper ballots.
A voter was officially expelled after repeatedly demanding an unavailable paper ballot.

Right

Election Intimidation Tactics

Electronic voting machines malfunctioned at Moscow polling stations on Friday, September 18, 2026, during Russia’s parliamentary elections.
President Vladimir Putin said the election would reaffirm Russia’s stability, while the Central Election Commission urged early voting in occupied Ukraine to prevent attacks.
Jaroslava Barbieri of Chatham House described the election environment as a “total regime of terror.”
Election officials were escorted by Russian soldiers with ballot boxes, which critics called intimidation.

Blindspot

Russia’s Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from the State Duma party-list ballot.
A voter was expelled from a Moscow polling station after repeatedly requesting a paper ballot that was unavailable.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The 2011 Russian parliamentary election, held on December 4, 2011, sparked massive protests across the nation after alleged vote-rigging. The Central Election Commission deployed 30,000 electronic voting terminals, yet independent monitors reported a 12% failure rate, prompting paper ballot reverts. Similarly, in September 2026 Moscow stations experienced terminal crashes, the Supreme Court barred Yabloko, and soldiers escorted ballot boxes, echoing 2011’s intimidation claims. These recurring disruptions illustrate the Russian Federation’s pattern of using technology and legal bans to consolidate power, warning the European Union and other observers.

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Supreme Court bans Yabloko

Electronic voting machines malfunctioned at multiple Moscow polling stations on Friday, September 18, 2026, during Russia’s parliamentary elections.
The Russian Supreme Court barred the anti-war Yabloko party from appearing on the State Duma party-list ballot.
Election officials could not reboot the terminals, prompting several stations to revert to paper ballots.
A voter was officially expelled after repeatedly demanding an unavailable paper ballot.

1 / 4