Donetsk, Aug 31 — DAN. Early voting in the elections to the Donetsk People’s Republic parliament and municipal bodies is beginning in the region on Thursday for the first time.

The option is available until September 7 to residents  living in remote or frontline areas and those who will be unable to vote on the election days due to valid reasons such as business matters, personal circumstances or health condition.

The five political parties which are taking part in the election are listed on ballot papers in the following order:  1. New People 2. Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia 3. Communist Party of the Russian Federation 4. United Russia 5. A Just Russia — Patriots — For Truth. More than 3,600 candidates are running in the election.

The main stage of voting will take place on September 8 — 10. Field voting will be arranged in the first two days. Residents can cast their ballots at voting stations on Single Voting Day on September 10. On that day, 81 Russian regions will open some 330 exterritorial polling stations for residents of the Donbass Republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Some two million voters in the DPR will elect 90 people to the regional People’s Council (parliament) and more than 500 to local councils.

It is the first time the Donetsk People’s Republic is holding elections in accordance with the Russian law.*jk