Full Breakdown
Electronic Voting Glitches Mar First Day of Russia’s 2026 Parliamentary Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Machine Failures on Election Day
On September 18, the first day of Russia’s three-day parliamentary election, electronic voting terminals at numerous polling stations in Moscow stopped working. Telegram channels reported many devices displayed the message “TEG not working, only paper ballots.” Officials attempted to reboot the terminals; when unsuccessful, voters were redirected to paper ballots. At station 2133 the machines were out of service for more than an hour. By Friday afternoon some terminals were reported to be functioning again, but observers noted continued queues at other sites.
Background & Context – The Election’s Political Landscape
The vote (September 18-20) is the first State Duma election since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. All 450 seats are contested under a parallel system: 225 deputies from nationwide party lists and 225 from single-member constituencies. United Russia, the ruling party that backs President Vladimir Putin, currently holds 310 seats and is expected to retain its super-majority. The liberal anti-war Yabloko party was barred by the Supreme Court on August 17, leaving no genuine opposition.
Data & Statistics – Election Mechanics
- Total seats: 450 (half party-list, half single-member).
- United Russia’s current seat count: 310; needs at least 300 to keep its super-majority.
- Registered parties: United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, New People, A Just Russia, Party of Pensioners for Social Justice, Communists of Russia, Rodina, Russian Ecological Party “The Greens,” Party of Direct Democracy.
- Electronic voting is permitted in many regions, including Moscow.
Official Statements & Responses
President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation before voting, declaring:
> “Your choice, and your will, will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our soldiers… no one will succeed in dividing or intimidating us.”
Election officials said technical teams tried to reboot the terminals and, where that failed, instructed poll workers to switch to paper ballots. The Central Election Commission dismissed claims that the electronic system is unreliable.
On-the-Ground Reports – Voter Experiences
A voter interviewed by the independent outlet SOTA described a brief bottleneck as voters were hurriedly redirected to paper ballots. Another voter reported being ejected after repeatedly requesting a paper ballot that was allegedly unavailable. Video footage posted on Telegram showed voters milling around non-functional machines, highlighting the confusion caused by the glitches.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Status of the Machines
SOTA reported that the terminals at station 787 were operational again by Friday afternoon, while other observers noted ongoing malfunctions and queues at additional locations. No comprehensive audit of the electronic voting system’s performance has been released, leaving the full extent of the technical failures unclear.
What’s Next – Election Timeline
Voting continues across Russia’s 11 time zones until September 20. Preliminary results are expected to begin streaming at 1800 GMT on Sunday, with near-complete tallies anticipated on Monday. The outcome will be used by the Kremlin to claim domestic support for its ongoing war effort.