A number of states, for example, Great Britain, allow only citizens who permanently live in the territory of the country to vote. The Russian Federation adheres to a different policy - every citizen can take part in elections regardless of their place of residence. But in order to exercise your right, you need to know how and where you can vote abroad.
So that Russian tourists and people living abroad permanently can vote, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes polling stations. Most often they are located in the buildings of embassies and consulates, but they can also be opened at trade missions of Russia, in Russian cultural centers or other places. It should be borne in mind that this applies only to federal elections - presidential and parliamentary. You will not be able to vote, for example, in the elections of the mayor of the city, even if you still have your Russian registration at the place of residence. Before the elections, go to the website of the Russian Embassy in the country where you are located. On the first page or in the news section there should be indicated the place of the elections and the date - in some countries the elections can be held several days earlier than in Russia. Please note that polling stations usually open in large cities or in places where Russian-speaking specialists live. There can be only 2-3 sites for the whole country. Therefore, if you live in a small village far from the Russian consulate, plan your trip in advance. Take your Russian civil or foreign passport with you to the polls. An identity card issued by another country cannot replace a Russian document. If your passport is expired, take care of replacing it in advance. At the same time, please note that you can renew your general civil passport abroad only if you are registered with the Russian consulate. Unlike those who vote in another city in Russia, those participating in elections abroad do not need an absentee certificate. After presenting your passport, you will be added to the electoral list and you will be able to vote. At the same time, it is not necessary to be registered with the consulate, in contrast to the situation with the replacement of documents. Try to arrive at the polling station early and be aware that the waiting time can take a long time. In large cities with a large Russian-speaking population, long queues can form at polling stations. You can find out the voting results on the website of the Central Election Commission of Russia. Moreover, they will be announced no earlier than the moment the elections end in the Kaliningrad region - the westernmost region of Russia.
