Translated material
Voices crying out
Russians want to preserve the election of power, but do not believe in the ability of elections to influence power
Does the revival on the political Olympus associated with the upcoming federal elections in Russia have anything to do with the mood of the people? The people need elections, but do the people need elections? What if the majority remains indifferent and ignores the elections, deciding that their votes don’t affect anything anyway? What then?The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) undertook to answer these questions with the help of Russians in order to understand how important the existence of elected government bodies in our society seems to Russians . It turned out that the majority of Russians want to preserve elections as a way of influencing the authorities, but do not believe that in the current situation this method of influence is effective. However, complete political apathy and extremely low voter turnout at the elections do not yet threaten Russia.
Only a fifth of those surveyed, or more precisely, 21% of Russians, believe that ordinary voters determine who comes to power and what policies will be pursued. A third of respondents (32%) are convinced that practically nothing depends on their vote; all major decisions will be made without them. The majority (42%) are close to this point of view, but are not so categorical: something depends on the people’s participation in elections, although very little.
But let’s not forget: this is happening in Russia, which means that not everything is so simple. So, regardless of whether their votes influence anything or not, exactly three-quarters of respondents (75%) note the importance of the principle of electing government bodies for Russian society. The minority who disagree with this is only 18% of respondents.
Therefore, the elections will take place no matter the political weather: the disciplined Russian voter will come to the ballot box no matter what and cast their votes.
If we analyze the age, financial situation and educational level of the respondents, then, apparently, highly educated and financially secure young people will come to the polling stations in the first rows. This is hard to believe after many years of habit of domination of low-income old women in these same areas, but the numbers speak definitely: in the group of people from 18 to 24 years old who support participation in elections there are 82%, that is, even more than in the usually most law-abiding group from 60 and above (72%). As age increases and the educational level and material well-being decrease, the willingness to vote decreases. “Young people don’t have much experience yet. Previous generations did not vote for anyone. They already have experience of disappointments. Another thing is how much young people’s faith in the usefulness of voting is theoretical. At the same time, many young people have absolutely no intention of going to the polls,” Deputy Director General of the Center for Political Technologies Alexei Makarkin explained this situation to Vremya Novostey.
Most of all supporters of the election of government bodies are among supporters of United Russia (86%). “A Just Russia” is in second place (79%), followed by the LDPR (75%) and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (74%). Those respondents who approve of Vladimir Putin’s activities as president of the country, for the most part, consider the institution of elections itself to be important (79% versus 14). And vice versa: those who do not approve of it also rate the electoral system low (58% versus 34).
Moreover, among respondents who approve of Vladimir Putin’s activities, the prevailing belief is that ordinary voters can influence the government and political course (69% versus 28). The president's opponents have little faith in such an idyllic future (59% versus 39%). “This is also quite understandable,” says Mr. Makarkin. - Those voters who vote for the president have their own candidate. They are satisfied with their choice and believe that they have a role in the president’s success. But we have a large supply deficit in the opposition market. Although there is demand. The figures that are being proposed—Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov—are people from the 90s. They satisfy the opposition part of the electorate less and less. Therefore, the opposition electorate is confused and does not understand what is happening. It seemed like some figures appeared on the horizon - Sergei Glazyev, Dmitry Rogozin, but then they disappeared somewhere.”
“Conditional supporters of Putin and United Russia believe that since power will not change anyway, but is consolidated and legitimized through elections, this is precisely the way to influence the situation, leaving it as it is. And those who are dissatisfied with the situation, have complaints against the leadership - against United Russia and the president, understand that even if they try their best, they will not be able to break through this wall, says Alexander Konovalov, president of the Institute for Strategic Assessments. “They are confident that the electoral system has degenerated, that it is a manipulated procedure, their votes will still not affect the result in any way, and the authorities will not allow people with an alternative point of view to appear in the political system.”