Donetsk, Jun 14 — DAN. Russian election experts are expecting a high voter turnout at the regional and municipal elections in the new regions in September 2023.

“It’s difficult to make predictions in percentage points, but we feel people’s mood and communicate with civil institutions, so we expect a high turnout matching last year’s referenda’s, ” said chairman of the Independent Public Monitoring Association (NOM), member of the presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Alexander Brodd.

Russian Public Chamber Coordination Council Chairman Maxim Grigoryev said that “the new regions take a serious attitude to the involvement in Russia’s life, including politics.”

“I have no doubts that voter turnout will be very high despite artillery attacks, ” Grigoryev told reporters.

On September 10 which is Single Voting Day in Russia, the DPR will hold elections to the People’s Council (parliament) and municipal bodies. The voting can last for up to three days.

The Donetsk People’s R: epublic acceded to Russia as a constituent entity on September 30, 2022 following the unification referendum. Back then, an unprecedented voter turnout of 97.51 percent was recorded.*jk