Every fifth Russian (and every third young adult) would like to have an e-passport. A quarter of respondents would like to have an electronic driving license.

MOSCOW, August 11, 2020 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey describing the Russian attitudes towards electronic passports and driving licenses, as well as other documents Russians would like to have in a digital format.

Following the topic of electronic employment record books, VCIOM asked Russians about their attitudes towards the e-passport and driving license.

Sixteen percent of Russians would like to have an e-passport; they are often respondents aged 18-24 (30%), men (21%), and residents of large cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg (26%) and million-plus cities (20%). Respondents aged 60 and older and rural area inhabitants are less likely to be willing to switch to e-passport (6% and 10%, respectively).  Most of Russians do not appear to be willing to have an e-passport (73%); every tenth respondent did not give an answer (11%).

The benefits of electronic passports, as mentioned by Russians, are as follows: it cannot be stolen or lost (9%), you do not need to take it with you (6%), it is easier to use it and it is more practical (5%); it is also durable because it will not get dirty, wet or torn (4%). You always have it on hand (3%). Every fourth Russian considers that e-passports have no advantages; the paper-based ones are better (28%; half of respondents failed to point to any advantage (42%).

The major disadvantage of using the e-passport is that the data can be made available to third parties (24%). Russians are also afraid of fraud because of poor data security (17%), possible system failure (8%), data loss (3%), lack of control over the data (3%), or inability to use the e-passport offline or without electricity (3%).

A quarter of Russians would like to have their driving license in an electronic format (23%): they are mainly men (28%), young respondents aged 18-24 (46%) and 25-34 (36%), and those aged 35-44 (30%). However three-quarters of Russians would refuse to have an electronic driving license: mainly Russians aged 45-59 (80%) and those aged 60 (86%), as well as women (79%). Those who have a driving license are more likely to be willing to have it in an electronic format (32%) than those who do not have any driving license at all (13% would opt for the e-format).

As to other documents to be used in electronic form, Russians would willingly have an electronic SNILS (12%), OMS (10%), INN (8%) and other certificates of insurance (8%). Sixteen percent of Russians would refuse to shift to electronic documents; 52% remained undecided.

Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 19, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. 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 to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

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.