Polling day in Russia

Today is a vote day in Russia; at 12 am Moscow time elections began in Chukotka, Kamchatka, Yakutia and the Magadan Region. The residents of Magadan are voting for deputies to the Region's Duma, in the other regions municipal elections are taking place.

Elections are also taking place in the Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Kostroma, and Belgorod Regions, and also in
the Republic of Tuva. In these regions of Russia people will vote for members of the local legislative bodies.

In two regional capitals, Makhachkala and Samara, local residents will elect mayors. For the first time ever
elections for a mayor will take place in Pyatigorsk, the capital of the North Caucasian Federal District.

Altogether, 8,000 different elections are taking place today in Russia. More than 100,000 candidates are competing for the offices of local officials, ITAR-TASS reports.