30 August 2021. VCIOM presents the findings of a survey among the Moscow inhabitants devoted to remote e-voting.
The Moscow voters have the option to cast their ballot both in-person at the polling station and remotely (via Mos.ru) in the September 2021 elections. Ninety-four percent of the Moscow residents are aware of that; however 63% are well aware (75% of those who are determined to participate in the voting); 31% heard about it but do not know any details. Five percent of Muscovites did not know about the opportunity to vote remotely.
The share of those who admit voting remotely has increased by 7 p.p. over a year — from 42% in May 2020 to 49% in August 2021; the share of those who refuse this opportunity has decreased from 54% to 50%.
Seventeen percent of Muscovites have experienced remote e-voting (27% of the 25-34-year-olds, 22% of the 34-44- year-olds); 83% have not.
More than half of those who have participated in e-voting (57%) view it favorably; one-third (33%) remain neutral; 9% have negative experiences.
Half of Muscovites (49%) consider that remote e-voting is convenient and not hard to use (80% of those who have participated in e-voting). Twenty-eight percent say that e-voting is difficult and does not make the voting process more convenient (13% of those who have used this system).
According to the Moscow residents, the basic advantages of remote e-voting are its convenience (20%; 30% of those who have participated in e-voting), an opportunity to choose time and place to vote (17%, 27% of those who have participated in e-voting), that it is time-saving and quick (14%; 26% of those who have participated in e-voting), that it is easy and available (13%; 18% of those who have participated in e-voting); and that it provides safety against the virus (10%; 17% of those who have participated in e-voting). About a quarter of respondents (25%) consider that remote e-voting has no advantages compared to traditional voting in-person.
The survey was commissioned by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry in May 2020 and August 2021. A total of 1,200 Muscovites aged 18 and older were surveyed in May 2020 and August 2021. Survey method: telephone interviews using a stratified two-stage random sample of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Moscow. Gender and age quotas were applied.
The Moscow voters have the option to cast their ballot both in-person at the polling station and remotely (via Mos.ru) in the September 2021 elections. Are you well aware of that/have you heard anything/ or do you hear about that for the first time? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | Total respondents |
Well aware | 63 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 31 |
This is the first time I hear about that; don’t know | 6 |
Do you personally admit or exclude a possibility of your participation in the remote e-voting? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| May, 2020* | August, 2021 |
Yes, I admit it | 42 | 49 |
No, I exclude it | 54 | 50 |
Don’t know | 3 | 1 |
May question: “Do you personally admit or exclude a possibility of remote e-voting?”
Have you had any experience with remote e-voting, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | Ages 25-34 | Ages 35-44 | Ages 45-59 | Ages 60 + | |
Yes, I have | 17 | 9 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 9 |
No, I haven’t | 83 | 91 | 73 | 78 | 81 | 91 |
How would you assess your experience in remote e-voting; was it positive, negative or neutral? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who previously participated in remote e-voting) | |
| % of those who previously participated in remote e-voting |
Positive | 57 |
Neutral | 33 |
Negative | 9 |
Don’t know | 1 |
There are different opinions on Moscow’s remote e-voting. Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| Total respondents | Persons who participated in remote e-voting |
…it makes the voting process more convenient and easier to most of users | 49 | 80 |
…e-voting is a complicated system; it does not make the voting process more convenient | 28 | 13 |
Don’t know | 23 | 7 |
In your opinion, what advantages does remote e-voting have? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | ||
| Total respondents | Persons who participated in remote e-voting |
It is convenient, you do not need to go anywhere when you do not want to | 20 | 30 |
Free choice, I can vote at any time, in any place | 17 | 27 |
Time-saving , quick, voting speed | 14 | 26 |
It is easier, more available, mobile | 13 | 18 |
Safety against viruses, no contacts | 10 | 17 |
No falsification | 2 | 6 |
An opportunity to study in detail information about candidates, more time to think over | 2 | 4 |
It is convenient for the mobility impaired, disabled persons, senior citizens | 5 | 3 |
Vote counting is easier | 1 | 2 |
It is convenient for people who are busy working or cannot come to the polling station | 3 | 2 |
A vast majority of people can cast their ballot | 1 | 2 |
A giveaway was promised | 1 | 2 |
Other | 5 | 11 |
No advantages | 24 | 6 |
Don’t know | 10 | 1 |