Moscow polling stations stop issuing paper ballots on final voting day

September 20, 2026 at 06:37 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Moscow polling stations stopped issuing paper ballots on Sunday, September 20, the final day of voting for Russia's State Duma. Election officials cited computer failures across the city and directed voters to electronic terminals, while many refused to vote online.

Key Facts

On September 20, all Moscow polling stations stopped issuing paper ballots, according to Meduza, citing voters.
Election officials attributed the stoppage to computer failures across Moscow and offered online voting as an alternative.
SOTAvision reported that voters were told of failures in electronic list systems and that the GAS Vybory system was down at some precincts.
The Insider spoke with voters who reported problems with paper ballot issuance at at least two Moscow precincts.
On September 19, CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova said the Moscow online voting platform had suffered a massive cyberattack.

Paper Ballot Stoppage

On September 20, the final day of voting for the 9th State Duma, Moscow polling stations stopped issuing paper ballots. Meduza reported that election commission staff cited computer failures across Moscow and offered voters the option to vote online. Many voters refused the electronic option, according to the publication. SOTAvision reported that voters were told of failures in electronic list systems and that the GAS Vybory system was down at some precincts. The Insider spoke with voters who reported problems with paper ballot issuance at at least two Moscow precincts.

Electronic Voting Criticism

Observers have repeatedly expressed concerns that online voting results could be falsified. Experts consider paper ballots a more reliable method of expressing will. Leonid Volkov, former head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, told DW that the timing of the failure was suspicious. Volkov said that after noon, protest-minded voters came to vote on paper, and the system that issues paper ballots broke down. He added that citizens were offered to vote exclusively electronically, which could be manipulated.

Cyberattack Claims

On September 19, CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova said the Moscow online voting platform had suffered a massive cyberattack. On September 20, Moscow City Election Commission head Dmitry Reut said large-scale hacker attacks on the electronic voting system and voter register were continuing. Reut stated that all systems were operating normally.