Polling held in Thiruvananthapuram for Russian Presidential Polls

Russian nationals in Thiruvananthapuram cast votes for the Presidential elections in Russia, with paper ballots and EVMs.

As the Lok Sabha election scene hots up in Kerala, state capital Thiruvananthapuram saw votes being cast for another big election on Thursday.

Close to 60 Russian nationals queued up at a polling booth opened at the Russian House here to cast their votes for the Russian Presidential elections.

The Presidential elections, which has Russian President Vladimir Putin and three other candidates in the fray, is being held from March 15 (Friday) to March 17 (Sunday) in Russia. But Russian citizens in places like Thiruvananthapuram had the opportunity to exercise their franchise on Thursday.

In India, polling booths have been opened at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, the Russian Consulates in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, and in Goa, Koodankulam and Thiruvananthapuram. Polling will be held in Koodankulam on Friday.

Voters who queued up to cast votes in Thiruvananthapuram included Russian nationals residing in Kerala and tourists.

Unlike India which has shifted to Elctronic Voting Machines (EVM), Russian elections use paper ballots.

The ballots will be despatched to the Election Commission office in Moscow via the Russian Consulate General, Chennai, ratheesh C. Nair, Honorary Consul of Russia and Director, Russian House, said.