About one million of Russian electorate live abroad

There are about 101 million people in total who have the right to vote in Duma elections, according to the Central Election Committee. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced by Committee Chairman Alexander Veshniakov at a meeting with regional committees. He added that one million of the electorate live abroad.

He also said that the 225 district election committees should be formed by September 17. Candidates will register between September 22 and October 22. The last thirty days before the election will be taken up with election campaigns.

Mr Veshniakov also mentioned that the elections will cost over USD one billion in total, that is three times more expensive than the previous elections. The rise in cost is due to the introduction of electronic voting boxes and an electronic vote-counting system which has already been set up in 97% of the regions.

However, Committee Secretary Olga Zastrozhnaya said that most election committees have still not organised their internet sites where the results of the elections will be posted within 24 hours after the votes have been counted.