Elections of regional governors and deputies of legislative assemblies and municipalities have taken place in Russia. 92 thousand seats at various levels are replaced in 83 regions of the country.
CEC head Vladimir Churov praised the elections as more important than the electoral process in the State Duma.
"I consider that this day is even more important than the future parliamentary elections. More than 200 thousand candidates, 92 thousand seats. Imagine how much the elected deputies, governors had to do today," he said after voting.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed an opinion that the preliminary results reflect the development of a democratic society in our country.
He noted that "the elections were held in a highly competitive basis."
48,89% voted in the regions of Central Russia before 6:00 pm.
In the North Caucasus, the elections took place in the Stavropol region, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Chechnya and Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Residents of these regions elected deputies of towns and villages, as well as heads of municipalities. Nobody was elected today in Kabardino-Balkaria.
It is reported that the highest voter turnout was recorded in the North Caucasus Federal District: in Chechnya and Ingushetia. So by lunchtime the polls were visited by more than half of the residents. 65% of the population, or 134.7 thousand people voted in 40 localities of Ingushetia before 6:00 pm.
According to preliminary data, Chechnya was the leader of the Caucasus according to the number of voting requests on this day.
Stavropol appeared to be an outsider. In comparison with the 2014 municipal elections, the turnout was 12% lower and amounted to 26.4% by 6:00 pm Moscow time.
Residents of the Krasnodar Territory participated in the voting municipal authorities more actively than the Stavropol residents. As a result 41.5% of the population, or 1.6 million people visited polls before 7:30 pm.
More than 35 thousand people decided to use their democratic rights in Karachayevo-Cherkessia. As a result, the turnout was nearly 40% in the region before 6:00 pm Moscow time.
In Dagestan, the elections were held in 605 municipal elections, the lists included more than 1.2 million voters. More than 700 thousand people - 60% voted before 6:00 pm Moscow time. In the afternoon turnout was 36%.
