Electoral manipulation and the development of Russia's political system

Abstract

The allegations of electoral manipulation surrounding Russia's parliamentary election of December 2011 were nothing new. Regional elections in October 2009 resulted in victory for Putin's United Russia, followed by a walkout from the State Duma by the other parliamentary parties, to protest the elections’ conduct. Multi-layered questions surround the role of electoral manipulation for different actors in Russia's political system. Analysis focused on the elections of October 2009 shows that regime, opposition, and regional authorities all have conflicting motivations. For the regime, electoral manipulation helps to secure power and legitimacy, but its uncovering undermines that legitimacy. For the opposition, participation in elections provides an opportunity to both gain electoral representation and to de-legitimise the regime by declaring the ballot flawed. Regional leaders owe their positions to the regime and must balance any obligation to deliver ‘correct’ election results against mixed signals on the nature of that regime and of democracy in Russia.