MOSCOW, October 8 (RIA Novosti) - Voters in nine regions of Russia are electing Sunday representatives to regional legislations in what many politicians consider a preparation for next year's parliamentary elections.
The elections are taking place in the Republics of Karelia, Tuva, and Chuvashia; the Astrakhan, Novgodorod, Lipetsk and Sverdlovsk Regions; the Jewish Autonomous Area; and the Primorye Territory.
The ruling United Russia party claimed earlier this year that it would secure more than 45% of the party-list votes during Sunday's regional elections.
New election rules, adopted on an initiative by President Vladimir Putin, eliminate single-mandate districts, and the results of today's voting could indicate how strong is United Russia's hold on constitutional majority in the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma.
