Russia's voter turnout has been falling for years: The last nationwide elections, a Duma vote in 2016, saw turnout drop below 50 percent for the first time. The Levada Center, an independent polling firm, estimated last year that turnout in Sunday's election could be as low as 52 percent. But the gulf in popularity between Putin and his rivals in the election may well hurt turnout, even among the Russian president's supporters. Political opponents have used the threat of low turnout to criticize the government. The Central Election Commission hired consultants to help promote the election, and officials have gone door to door to remind voters about the election.

Source: Washington Post March 17, 2018 19:01 UTC