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«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «POLITOLOGIYA. RELIGIOVEDENIE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «POLITICAL SCIENCE AND RELIGION STUDIES»
ISSN 2073-3380 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2026. Vol 57

Transformation of Vladivostok's Electoral Space (Based on the Results of the 2011–2021 State Duma Elections)

Author(s)

E. A. Ushakov

Pacific Geographical Institute FEB RAS, Vladivostok, Russian Federation

Abstract
This article examines the electoral characteristics of Vladivostok using the example of three federal election campaigns for the State Duma based on party lists (2011, 2016, and 2021). Changes in the city's electoral profile across the main political parties over the past two decades are identified. An analysis of specific territorial voting trends is provided. Ninety-four electoral microdistricts were identified through zoning. Differences between electoral microdistricts are determined by the geographic principles of their allocation. These principles include the social characteristics of voters living in a given area, the transportation and geographic location of polling stations, the historical development of electoral patterns in certain areas, and other specific features of the polling stations. These factors shape a specific voting pattern, characteristic of one or more precinct election commissions that make up the electoral microdistrict. Previously, within the city, for certain parties, two opposing principles of territorial differentiation of vote changes in the form of declining results were in effect: “from the center to the periphery” (CPRF, YABLOKO, non-parliamentary parties of a liberal orientation) or “from the periphery to the center” (United Russia, LDPR). An analysis of the most recent 2021 elections revealed that electoral micro-districts are gradually blurring their boundaries due to changes in the specific characteristics of the micro-districts, leading to greater similarity. The analysis focused on the three largest parties (United Russia, the RF Communist Party, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), which were less dependent on local electoral fluctuations. An analysis has been conducted to identify the degree of similarity in voting patterns between parties using various mathematical methods for the 2021 election. The greatest similarities were found among small parties (primarily liberal ones), and left-wing parties (the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Fair Russia, the Pensioners' Party, and the Communists of Russia) also showed significant similarities. United Russia had the least similarity with other parties. It was noted that the most recent election campaign raises questions related to the city's new electoral micro-districts, which may occur after the new State Duma elections in 2026.
About the Authors
Ushakov Evgeny Aleksandrovich, Candidate of Sciences (Gepgraphy), Research Scientist, Laboratory of Territorial and Economic Structures Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS 7, Radio st., Vladivostok, 690041, Russian Federation e-mail: ushakov.tig.dvo@gmail.com
For citation
Ushakov E.A. Transformation of Vladivostok's Electoral Space (Based on the Results of the 2011-2021 State Duma Elections). The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2026, vol. 57, pp. 17-33. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.57.17 (in Russian)
Keywords
electoral zoning, electoral micro-districts, dynamism, State Duma elections, party lists, Vladivostok.
UDC
911.3:324
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.57.17
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