Chairs of polling stations with low turnout and weak support for Putin more likely to be fired, Novaya Gazeta study finds

In nearly half of Russia’s regions, chairs of precinct election commissions are more likely to be dismissed if they failed to deliver a high turnout and strong results for Putin. The findings come from a data-driven investigation by Novaya Gazeta.

The journalists analyzed the data compiled by electoral analyst Ivan Shukshin on changes in the composition of precinct election commissions that occurred between the 2018 and 2024 presidential elections. By law, the composition of these commissions must be renewed at least once every five years. However, in some cases, entirely new commissions were formed and new chairs appointed, while in others, the previous chairs remained in place.