Elections-2026: Analyst reports

Analysts of the Elections Atlas project are studying how the campaign for the elections scheduled for the single voting day of 2026 is proceeding. In September 2026, elections will be held for the State Duma, the heads of 11 constituent entities of the Federation (eight direct elections, as well as three through a vote in the regional parliament), and elections for legislative assembly deputies in 39 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

"Who will do the counting?" Parts 3 and 4: Who, who is in charge in the election commission?
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"Who will do the counting?" Parts 3 and 4: Who, who is in charge in the election commission?
Features of regional competition in 2026: results of the nomination and registration of candidates and party lists for the regional elections of 20 September 2026
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Features of regional competition in 2026: results of the nomination and registration of candidates and party lists for the regional elections of 20 September 2026
Nomination and Registration of Candidates in the State Duma Elections Scheduled for 20 September 2026
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Nomination and Registration of Candidates in the State Duma Elections Scheduled for 20 September 2026
"And who will do the counting?" Part 2: The simulation of a multi-party system
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"And who will do the counting?" Part 2: The simulation of a multi-party system
"And who is going to do the counting?" Part 1: The non-public public
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"And who is going to do the counting?" Part 1: The non-public public
Legal parameters of regional parliament elections
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Legal parameters of regional parliament elections
The party system at the start of the 2026 single voting day campaign
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The party system at the start of the 2026 single voting day campaign
Changes to federal electoral legislation from July 2021 to May 2026
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Changes to federal electoral legislation from July 2021 to May 2026

Elections-2026: Media monitoring of television broadcasts

The "Election Atlas" project has launched a weekly monitoring programme for federal television channels during the State Duma deputy election period. We are tracking how equitably the activities of election participants are covered on state-controlled federal television channels

"An unconditional lead for United Russia, second place for the Communist Party, and then there's an element of suspense" — TV channels announced the election results but cut their pre-election airtime even further.
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"An unconditional lead for United Russia, second place for the Communist Party, and then there's an element of suspense" — TV channels announced the election results but cut their pre-election airtime even further.
One for all: United Russia once again had to use Vladimir Putin for its TV campaigning
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One for all: United Russia once again had to use Vladimir Putin for its TV campaigning
Spoilers in the arena: TV channels help the Greens hijack New People's agenda
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Spoilers in the arena: TV channels help the Greens hijack New People's agenda
Putin instead of Yabloko: TV channels try to drown out the agenda with positive coverage of United Russia
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Putin instead of Yabloko: TV channels try to drown out the agenda with positive coverage of United Russia
Not a word for the defence: TV viewers never once heard the voice of an anti-war party
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Not a word for the defence: TV viewers never once heard the voice of an anti-war party
In the on-air politics of television channels, sharp changes occurred: Yabloko was criticised, and United Russia began to be praised more actively than before.
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In the on-air politics of television channels, sharp changes occurred: Yabloko was criticised, and United Russia began to be praised more actively than before.
A Celebration of Shared Misfortune: Federal TV Channels Seek to Project Unified Support for the “Special Military Operation” While Ignoring Yabloko’s “Peace Platform”
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A Celebration of Shared Misfortune: Federal TV Channels Seek to Project Unified Support for the “Special Military Operation” While Ignoring Yabloko’s “Peace Platform”
Know your place: for TV channels, New People and the Communist Party are out of favour, and the "minor parties" do not exist at all
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Know your place: for TV channels, New People and the Communist Party are out of favour, and the "minor parties" do not exist at all
Lords of tedium: television channels devote three times less airtime to the elections than in 2021
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Lords of tedium: television channels devote three times less airtime to the elections than in 2021
Main protagonists: TV channels devoted airtime not to election contestants but to the CEC of Russia
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Main protagonists: TV channels devoted airtime not to election contestants but to the CEC of Russia

Elections-2026: Media monitoring of social networks

The "Election Atlas" project has launched a weekly social-media monitoring programme for the period of the State Duma deputy elections. We are tracking the online activity of election participants.

Putin and Bondarenko are again the main figures in election debates: the CEC annulled Bondarenko’s registration, while Putin backed the initiatives of United Russia’s top five
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Putin and Bondarenko are again the main figures in election debates: the CEC annulled Bondarenko’s registration, while Putin backed the initiatives of United Russia’s top five
"Apple-free" depression: interest in elections has fallen, the LDPR for the first time took the lead because of Slutsky's car accident, Rodina threatens nuclear war
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"Apple-free" depression: interest in elections has fallen, the LDPR for the first time took the lead because of Slutsky's car accident, Rodina threatens nuclear war
Bondarenko more popular than Putin: wave of candidate registration cancellations eclipses president's speech
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Bondarenko more popular than Putin: wave of candidate registration cancellations eclipses president's speech
Yabloko's appeal dismissed, Schlosberg sentenced to 11 years: analogue GosMir cracks down on social media
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Yabloko's appeal dismissed, Schlosberg sentenced to 11 years: analogue GosMir cracks down on social media
Yabloko removed from the elections: how a single lawsuit shaped the week's agenda on social media
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Yabloko removed from the elections: how a single lawsuit shaped the week's agenda on social media
Losing Control: Yabloko and New People’s Social Media Popularity Begins to Slip Beyond the Reach of Domestic-Policy Managers
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Losing Control: Yabloko and New People’s Social Media Popularity Begins to Slip Beyond the Reach of Domestic-Policy Managers
Sympathy Keeps You Warm: Yabloko Closes In on New People on Social Media Following a Wave of Electoral Disqualifications and Repression
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Sympathy Keeps You Warm: Yabloko Closes In on New People on Social Media Following a Wave of Electoral Disqualifications and Repression
Campaigning governors: how United Russia uses official social media accounts to boost its visibility
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Campaigning governors: how United Russia uses official social media accounts to boost its visibility
Not a place for discussion: the number of posts about parties on social media is falling, while people's demand for discussing politics and the economy is growing
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Not a place for discussion: the number of posts about parties on social media is falling, while people's demand for discussing politics and the economy is growing
Quieter than water, lower than grass: the volume of campaigning on social media has fallen sharply
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Quieter than water, lower than grass: the volume of campaigning on social media has fallen sharply

How the deputies of the eighth State Duma voted

The "DumaBingo" project reports on the positions taken by deputies of the eighth-convocation State Duma (2021–2026) on the most contentious issues.

Что парламентские партии думают о голосовании через интернет
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Что парламентские партии думают о голосовании через интернет
From experiment to infrastructure: a chronology of the making of REV
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From experiment to infrastructure: a chronology of the making of REV
From internet scissors to the main valve: how Russia killed the global network
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From internet scissors to the main valve: how Russia killed the global network
How the Runet blocking machine was built
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How the Runet blocking machine was built
Collecting signatures for candidates: how a sensible idea degenerated into a loyalty test
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Collecting signatures for candidates: how a sensible idea degenerated into a loyalty test
From slogan to compliance: how the regulation of election campaigning has changed
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From slogan to compliance: how the regulation of election campaigning has changed
The minefield of election campaigning
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The minefield of election campaigning
Sterilising the ballot as a method of keeping the country's population in obedience
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Sterilising the ballot as a method of keeping the country's population in obedience
Rules for us and for them: how electoral law becomes a filter
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Rules for us and for them: how electoral law becomes a filter
Departyzation: how the Russian state regulated the party system
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Departyzation: how the Russian state regulated the party system
Analysis
"An unconditional lead for United Russia, second place for the Communist Party, and then there's an element of suspense" — TV channels announced the election results but cut their pre-election airtime even further.
15 September 2026
Television broadcast monitoringRussian Federation
"An unconditional lead for United Russia, second place for the Communist Party, and then there's an element of suspense" — TV channels announced the election results but cut their pre-election airtime even further.
Report on monitoring of federal television channels during the thirteenth week (7–13 September) of the election campaign for the election of deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation, scheduled for 20 September 2026
Putin and Bondarenko are again the main figures in election debates: the CEC annulled Bondarenko’s registration, while Putin backed the initiatives of United Russia’s top five
14 September 2026
Social media monitoringRussian Federation
Putin and Bondarenko are again the main figures in election debates: the CEC annulled Bondarenko’s registration, while Putin backed the initiatives of United Russia’s top five
Report on social media monitoring for the twelfth week (1–7 September) of the election campaign for the elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation, scheduled for 20 September 2026.
"Who will do the counting?" Parts 3 and 4: Who, who is in charge in the election commission?
10 September 2026
Election commissionsRussian Federation
"Who will do the counting?" Parts 3 and 4: Who, who is in charge in the election commission?
Analytical report on the composition of election commissions in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation at the start of the 2026 State Duma elections, in four parts
One for all: United Russia once again had to use Vladimir Putin for its TV campaigning
8 September 2026
Television broadcast monitoringRussian Federation
One for all: United Russia once again had to use Vladimir Putin for its TV campaigning
Monitoring report on federal television channels during the twelfth week (31 August – 6 September) of the election campaign for the elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation, scheduled for 20 September 2026