Russia's Central Election Commission will decide if Tomichi residents will be allowed to vote remotely in 2025.
Tomsk Region Considering Online Voting for September Elections
Tomsk, Russia - The Tomsk Region has submitted an application to employ a remote electronic voting (REV) system for the September elections, according to RIA Tomsk. The Central Election Commission is expected to make a decision on this matter by the end of June, as stated by Tomsk's Election Commission Chairman, Rostislav Radzivil.
In 2022, the REV system was first utilized in the region for the governor elections. The system was criticized by independent experts and candidates, who raised concerns about the reliability of vote counting. During the Russian Presidential elections in March 2024, approximately 84,000 Tomsk voters (11% of the total electorate) filed requests for REV, with 90% of them casting their votes.
Radzivil noted that the Tomsk Region submitted an application for the use of REV in February 2025, and a final decision should be made by the Central Election Commission in the first half of June. This is due to the fact that the region is currently transitioning to a new digital platform called "GAS 'Vybory' 2.0." This system is new and, to date, has not been employed for main elections. As a result, it remains unclear how it will function.
Radzivil added that more than 30 regions have submitted applications for REV. In the fall of 2025, elections for the Tomsk city Duma are scheduled to take place. The Duma consists of 37 seats: 27 are to be filled by single-mandate constituencies, while the remaining 10 are allocated through the party-list proportional representation system.
Regarding the Tomsk Region's potential inclusion in the REV system for the September 2025 elections, it is important to note that there is currently no official confirmation on this matter. For the most updated information, checking official election administration websites or recent government press releases is recommended.
[Enrichment Data] In other local developments, the Tomsk Region was designated as a specialized research and production center (SPC) for drones as part of Russia's national project for unmanned aerial systems.[5] However, this information does not directly relate to the electronic voting arrangements in the region.
The submission of the Tomsk Region to use a remote electronic voting (REV) system in the upcoming elections has sparked discussions about technology and policy-and-legislation, as concerns about the system's reliability and function have been raised by independent experts and candidates. In the midst of these politics, over 30 regions in Russia have submitted applications for REV, and the outcome for the Tomsk Region may impact the general news landscape, particularly with the elections for the Tomsk city Duma scheduled this fall.
