State Duma elections begin in Russia’s Siberian regions

Single Voting DayState Duma elections begin in Russia’s Siberian regions Voting will take place at 1,852 polling stationsIRKUTSK, September 18. /TASS/. The first day of the main voting period in the State Duma elections has begun in the Irkutsk Region, the easternmost part of the Siberian Federal District. Voting will take place at 1,852 polling stations, the regional election commission told TASS. "Voting will take place at 1,852 polling stations. More than 1.8 mln people are included on the voter rolls," the Irkutsk Region election commission said. The regional election commission also said that voting has already been completed at another 43 polling stations in hard-to-reach and remote areas. Around 4,000 people were able to cast their ballots there as part of early voting. Elections to the ninth State Duma are being held in Russia on September 18-20. For the first time, residents of Donbass and Novorossiya will take part in State Duma elections. Elections to legislative assemblies will also be held in 39 regions, along with elections for the top officials of Russian regions: direct elections in eight regions and elections by regional parliaments in three. Around 23,000 seats are up for election in total. 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