Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, March 25, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study describing Russian views on online voting and their willingness to participate in it.

The share of those who think that e-voting should be made available has increased from 34% in 2008 and reached 47% today (66% of the 18-24-year-olds). In addition, 49% of Russians approve of the idea to allow the voter to vote remotely over the Internet; this share has increased by 21 p.p. since 2009.    

Every second respondent (48%) is personally ready to vote online if it is available (a 12 p.p. increase since 2008). E-voting is mainly favored by people who have higher education or incomplete higher education diplomas (54%), young respondents (67% of the 18-24-year-olds) as well as Russians who use the Internet on a daily basis (57%).

However, 50% would not use e-voting. They are basically older respondents (63% of persons aged 60 and over), respondents who have secondary education certificates (55%) and those who do not use the Internet (72%). Deliberate manipulation and election fraud (an increase from 32% in 2008) are cited as the main reasons by three-quarters of respondents refusing to take part in e-voting (75%). One-quarter of respondents (25%) do not believe that it will be possible to provide reliable infrastructure in e-voting; 17% doubt that ballot secrecy can be guaranteed.

Potentially more Russians are ready to vote online (a 9 p.p increase since 2008): 25% of Russians would opt for e-voting in case they were offered to choose a voting method. Paper voting is chosen by 57% respondents. 

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on March 17, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

All sorts of elections take place in Russia: federal, regional and local. Let us talk about e-voting. Certain countries make it available to vote remotely over the Internet. In your opinion, apart from traditional voting method, should Russia make the e-voting system available to those people willing to vote via the Internet? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2008

2019

Definitely yes

10

16

Rather yes

24

31

Rather not

23

22

Definitely not

25

26

Don’t know

18

5

 

A number of initiatives to improve the election legislation are being discussed. What is your attitude towards voting over the Internet? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2009

2019

I am likely to approve it

28

49

I am likely to disapprove it

53

46

Don’t know

19

5

 

If you had an opportunity to vote using the Internet, would you agree to vote or not?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2008

2019

Yes, why not try

36

48

No, I would not vote

53

50

Don’t know

11

2

 

Why would you not try to vote via the Internet?

 (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of those who would not vote over the internet)

 

2008

2019

I admit there might be deliberate manipulation and election fraud

32

75

I do not believe that there will be reliable infrastructure

16

25

I do not believe that ballot secrecy will be guaranteed   

15

17

 I do not have a computer/Internet

0

5

I do not vote at all

0

1

Other  

7

4

Don’t know

40

3

 

If you are proposed to choose the voting method in next elections, which one will you choose?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2008

2019

Traditional paper voting using ballots

60

57

E-voting via the Internet

16

25

I have not decided yet

17

16

Don’t know

7

2

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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