United Russia Secures Record 355 Seats in Putin’s Parliament

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party has secured a record 355 seats in the 450-member State Duma, according to preliminary results from Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), giving the Kremlin-aligned party an even larger parliamentary majority after the country’s first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

With more than 95% of ballots counted, United Russia had secured 57.83% of the party-list vote, a significant increase from the 49.8% it received in the 2021 parliamentary election. Its candidates were also leading in 208 of the 225 single-member constituencies, helping push its projected strength to 355 seats.

The result gives United Russia its largest-ever faction in the State Duma, surpassing the previous record of 343 seats won in 2016. A total of 301 seats is required for a constitutional majority, meaning the projected 355-seat bloc leaves the party well above that threshold and enables it to maintain its ability to pass legislation and initiate constitutional amendments without support from other parliamentary parties.

President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party wins a record number of 355 seats in Russia’s 450-seat Duma, the lower house of parliament – election chief pic.twitter.com/wwCCV97Niz

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Opposition largely absent

The election was conducted in a political environment in which meaningful opposition to the Kremlin was severely restricted. The Yabloko party, described by the Associated Press as the only registered anti-war party, was removed from the national ballot after a Supreme Court decision. Many opposition figures are in prison, exile or otherwise barred from political participation.

Other parties that crossed the parliamentary threshold included the Communist Party, with about 13.8%, the LDPR with around 9%, and New People with roughly 8%. Reuters noted that these parties have generally voted alongside United Russia on major issues in recent years.

Turnout reaches 59.3%

CEC chief Ella Pamfilova put voter turnout at approximately 59.3%, describing it as a record for a State Duma election. The three-day voting process took place from September 18 to 20, including electronic voting in some areas.

The election also took place amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war. Voting was conducted in areas of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed, including territories that remain internationally disputed. Ukrainian authorities and Western governments have rejected Russia’s holding of elections in those territories.

Putin’s United Russia party wins 355 seats in Duma election, beats 2016 tally

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Cyberattacks and security concerns

Russia’s election authorities also reported extensive cyberattacks against election-related infrastructure. Pamfilova said more than 1,000 waves of DDoS attacks had targeted systems involved in the voting process, while authorities also reported disruptions to communications infrastructure.

The final result comes as the Kremlin seeks to demonstrate domestic political support during the continuing war. Putin had presented the parliamentary vote as an important measure of public backing for his policies, while opposition activists and Western officials have questioned the competitiveness and credibility of the electoral process.

In numerical terms, the outcome is clear: United Russia is projected to hold 355 of 450 Duma seats—nearly 79% of the chamber—giving Putin’s political establishment another commanding majority for the next parliamentary term.