Lead
The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that up to 11 political parties will appear on the federal ballot in the upcoming State Duma elections, according to CEC Chairperson Ella Pamfilova. Speaking at a commission meeting, Pamfilova said the parties were required to hold congresses to nominate their candidates no later than July 11, 2026, and notify the CEC of their plans two days in advance. Since no requests were received on July 9, she said the commission will proceed on the assumption that the 11 parties that have emerged by now are the ones in question, and that there will certainly be no more than 11 parties on the ballot.
Coverage comparison
This story is based on reporting by TASS, the Russian state news agency. In one report, Pamfilova detailed the number of parties and documents submitted. In another, she discussed the security situation around the vote. A third report covered the timeline for party nominations.
Key claims
Pamfilova said that from June 30 to July 12, the CEC received documents from 11 political parties: the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, the Russian Communist Party, the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko, the Party of Pensioners, United Russia, New People, Just Russia, the Communists of Russia party, Rodina, the Party of Direct Democracy, and the Greens. According to the CEC chair, these parties submitted 8,796 documents totaling 135,922 pages.
The federal ballot for the State Duma election, certified by the CEC, lists 2,066 candidates, as reported. The lists for single-mandate districts include 1,357 candidates. In 225 single-mandate districts, 589 candidates have been nominated, including 507 candidates from seven political parties and 82 independent candidates. One candidate from one political party has been registered, whereas two independent candidates have lost their registration.
For the elections of high-ranking officials of Russian regions, Pamfilova said 40 candidates have been nominated by regional branches of nine political parties, with one candidate registered and one candidate losing their registration. The nomination period is still ongoing in one Russian region.
In a separate statement, Pamfilova said the Russian CEC is preparing for various enemy provocations and sabotage during the upcoming parliamentary vote and is ready to establish a "strong barrier" to such actions. She said: "We will inevitably face various provocations and sabotage, as our enemies are making very extensive preparations both externally and internally. <…> We are getting ready for this too as I hope we will put a strong barrier to all sorts of provocations."
Pamfilova also announced that Russia will send invitations to observers in the Duma election to 12 international organizations and 103 countries, with 43 invitations already accepted. Regarding voting abroad, the focus will be on security in unfriendly countries, she concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin set the elections of members of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly for September 20, according to a TASS report.