History, legal regulation, and practice of remote electronic voting in Russia

this article examines the features of remote electronic voting (REV) in Russia through the lens of historical development, legal regulation, and contemporary implementation practices. The advancement and expansion of digital technologies have significantly influenced electoral processes, making the study of REV in Russia a pressing necessity. The relevance of the topic is determined by the state's efforts to enhance electoral accessibility, as well as the existing challenges related to security, transparency, and public trust in electronic voting systems. Despite the legal institutionalization of REV and its active implementation, the scientific community remains divided on its effectiveness and compliance with democratic standards. The article aims to identify key issues in the regulation, organization, and technological aspects of REV in Russia, as well as to analyze its historical background and prerequisites. The study concludes that the legal framework governing REV remains fragmented, creating uncertainties regarding citizens’ electoral rights and mechanisms for overseeing the voting process. The debate over the system’s reliability and its impact on voter turnout remains particularly contentious. The author’s contribution lies in a systematic analysis of existing approaches to the study of REV, the structuring of legal and academic sources, and the formulation of recommendations for addressing existing challenges. The findings will be useful to experts in electoral law, political scientists, developers of digital voting systems, and policymakers shaping election digitalization strategies.

remote electronic voting, electoral law, political digitalization, legal regulation, election technologies, electoral behavior