Russian Presidential Election, 2018

[Crumpets]

Here's a picture of the ballot. As far as I'm aware, Russia does not have an option for write-in candidates, so everyone voting Navalny on this thread would simply have their ballot not counted, which IMHO is not that effective of a protest. Some other interesting things - Putin has by far and away the shortest resume on the ballot - all it says is "Born in 1952, lives in Moscow, President of the Russian Federation, self-nominated"

Compare that to Suraykin's which reads "Born in 1978, lives in Moscow, political party: "Political Party COMMUNIST PARTY COMMUNISTS OF RUSSIA" Chairman of the Central Committee. Nominated by the political party "Political Party COMMUNIST PARTY COMMUNISTS OF RUSSIA" member of the political party "Political Party COMMUNIST PARTY COMMUNISTS OF RUSSIA" Chairman of the Central Committee of the party."

Holy redundancy Batman!

[kelestian]

I don't know how to vote (and what tell my mother, usually she votes as i've told her). Voting for Zhirinovsky in the age of MeToo doesn't look good, Grudinin is nice, but i hate commies and his praising of Stalin was awful... Maybe Titov, at least i wouldn't be ashamed later.

[smoltchanov]

I will go for Yavlinsky, despite, obviously, 7 out of 8 candidates having exactly zero chances of victory...

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

If you are all interested you can watch livecams at voting stations there: http://www.nashvybor2018.ru/, some on the Far East are already on.

[Hnv1]

Since when do we not view this as an electoral type event?

[America Needs R'hllor]

If I was a Russian citizen, I'd boycott the election, though I might be inclined to vote for Yavlinsky (the only halfway not-terrible candidate).

[Former President tack50]

Question for the Russian posters- if Navalny was allowed to be on the ballot this time, what percent of the vote do you think he would've gotten? Would he reach 2nd place?

About 10% i think. Theoretically, his populist base could give him even 20, but - not with present set of candidates..

I wonder then, why didn't Putin allow him to run? Wouldn't he be able to spin it as a victory for him, like "traitor Navalny doesn't have the support of true Russians" or something like that?

Hypothetically even something like Putin 60%; Navalny 20%; everyone else 20% would probably be seen like a victory and would avoid a runoff

[smoltchanov]

Question for the Russian posters- if Navalny was allowed to be on the ballot this time, what percent of the vote do you think he would've gotten? Would he reach 2nd place?

About 10% i think. Theoretically, his populist base could give him even 20, but - not with present set of candidates..

I wonder then, why didn't Putin allow him to run? Wouldn't he be able to spin it as a victory for him, like "traitor Navalny doesn't have the support of true Russians" or something like that?

Hypothetically even something like Putin 60%; Navalny 20%; everyone else 20% would probably be seen like a victory and would avoid a runoff

Would I be Putin - i would do exactly that. But he and his team, probably, prefer to reduce already minimal risk to identical zero. Besides - Navalny as official candidate would get more TV access, would ask unpleasant questions, which would require some reaction and explanations on Putin's part, and so on. Present "power that be" are not too concerned about Western reaction on "quality" of Russian elections, and feel no need to get "a nod of approval" from it. Even if West will call election "utter farce" (which is true)  - it's fine with them. And, if so - what for do they need to create even similarity of "honest elections", if they can preserve their power in more rough, but more easy way?

[kelestian]

Question for the Russian posters- if Navalny was allowed to be on the ballot this time, what percent of the vote do you think he would've gotten? Would he reach 2nd place?

About 10% i think. Theoretically, his populist base could give him even 20, but - not with present set of candidates..

I wonder then, why didn't Putin allow him to run? Wouldn't he be able to spin it as a victory for him, like "traitor Navalny doesn't have the support of true Russians" or something like that?

Hypothetically even something like Putin 60%; Navalny 20%; everyone else 20% would probably be seen like a victory and would avoid a runoff

As you know, elections usually are rigged in dozen of Russian regions. So Navalny wouldn't concede (if i remember correctly, he didn't concede in 2013 mayoral election), so he would start protest campaign, raised Putin's illegitimacy question with foreign government etc.

[kelestian]

Wow, a lot of people at my polling station (Moscow). All 35+.

[Tender Branson]

Video of a female election official heading into a room next to the ballot box, returning with a pile of ballot papers and stuffing them into the ballot box ...

https://vk.com/true_lentach?w=wall-125004421_1646941

At minute 15:21



I'm very surprised by this, lol.

---

Besides, this election precinct looks extremely disorganised compared with an Austrian election precinct.

[Tender Branson]

Even more evidence:

https://vk.com/true_lentach?z=video12325107_456239273%2F69085d5e49fac35a4e%2Fpl_wall_-125004421

[Tender Branson]

Balloons, balloons:

https://vk.com/true_lentach?w=wall-125004421_1647602

[Lord Admirale]

I'd support Jeb!

[Tender Branson]

It's always helpful when you have a pile of ballot papers in your jacket as a backup:

https://vk.com/wall-125004421_1642630

[Tender Branson]

Apparently, Russian election officials have never heard that the ballot box has to be in front of the whole election commission that needs to be present and vigilant.

In Russian precincts, it seems that the election officials there wouldn't even recognize it if someone would steal the ballot box from the building ...

[America Needs R'hllor]

Lmao they aren't even trying

[BudgieForce]

Putin could at least try and make it less obvious.

[Former President tack50]

Question for the Russian posters,

When do polls close? And where can you follow the results of the so-called election?

[boske94]

Polls are closed. Out of 11 milion votes counted, Putin at 72%. Grudinin 15%, Zhirinovsky 7%. Others less than 6% combined.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Any turnout figures? This is more important than the actual results, because the (actual) opposition campaigned on boycotting it.

[jaichind]

Putin Wins 73.9% in Presidential Election, Vtsiom Exit Poll:IFX

[boske94]

Any turnout figures? This is more important than the actual results, because the (actual) opposition campaigned on boycotting it.

Not final turnout, but "The Central Election Commission reported that at 5pm Moscow time 51.9 percent of Russia’s 110 million voters had taken part, compared to 47.6 percent recorded at a comparable time six years ago."

[America Needs R'hllor]

Any turnout figures? This is more important than the actual results, because the (actual) opposition campaigned on boycotting it.

Not final turnout, but "The Central Election Commission reported that at 5pm Moscow time 51.9 percent of Russia’s 110 million voters had taken part, compared to 47.6 percent recorded at a comparable time six years ago."

I see. Bleh, I guess there's no actual hope of change in the years to come.

[jaichind]

ITAR-TASS: Voter turnout at presidential polls in Russia was 63.7% — exit poll