Russian authorities schedule presidential election for March 17, with voting held over three days

The upper chamber of Russia’s parliament, the Federation Council, has set the date for Russia’s next presidential elections for March 17, 2024, state media reported on Thursday. The body’s speaker, Valentina Matviyenko, noted that the resolution “essentially marks the start of campaigning.”

Central Election Commission (CEC) head Ella Pamfilova, for her part, said that this is the first time in modern Russian history that presidential elections will be held in “such a toxic geopolitical atmosphere.” She said that on December 8, the CEC will consider a resolution to hold voting over three days, from March 15–17.

Pamfilova added that the decision on whether to hold elections in the Ukrainian regions that Russia has annexed will be made by December 12 after consultations with the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Interior Ministry, and the Russian-installed “authorities” in the occupied territories.