President Vladimir

[Strudelcutie4427]

How much do you think Putin will win with

[Former President tack50]

Low 70s, though he could also be in the high 60s. Either way he will improve on his 2012 result

[Lord Halifax]

How much do you think Putin will win with

In the 68-73 range with the higher end being more likely. There are very good odds for Putin dropping below 70%, so I have placed a 100 dollar bet on him getting 60-70 at 5:1.

[smoltchanov]

Low 70s, though he could also be in the high 60s. Either way he will improve on his 2012 result

+100

[Strudelcutie4427]

If I lived in Россия I’d vote for Sobchak or Yavalny. But they got no chance so I’d be a Vlad voter since I’m not gonna vote for Žirinovskiy or the Communist

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Low 70s, though he could also be in the high 60s. Either way he will improve on his 2012 result

+100

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

If I lived in Россия I’d vote for Sobchak or Yavalny. But they got no chance so I’d be a Vlad voter since I’m not gonna vote for Žirinovskiy or the Communist

It's not as if Zhirinovsky or Grudi in have any real chance either

[Strudelcutie4427]

Поммия сваренная наша держава!!!
Россия любимая наша страна!!

 I’m not Russian but whatever Russia’s cool

[Antonio the Sixth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlwaHdfHbJA

[President Johnson]

Between 72% and 77%. What a "democracy".

[Crumpets]

I'm going to guess around 72%

[Strudelcutie4427]

I’ve got Putin at 71-74

[smoltchanov]

Between 72% and 77%. What a "democracy".

US counts it's "democracy period" since 1776. Russia - since 1991. Ask us 215 years from now, we may be more democratic then US))). In 1803 American democracy had a lot of it's own problems, and even slavery existed and was rather widespread)))

[Strudelcutie4427]

Between 72% and 77%. What a "democracy".

US counts it's "democracy period" since 1776. Russia - since 1991. Ask us 215 years from now, we may be more democratic then US))). In 1803 American democracy had a lot of it's own problems, and even slavery existed and was rather widespread)))

Exactly. Its not as easy as people think it would be transitioning from 500 years of the Tsars and 70 years of Communism to instantly become a democracy

[BudgieForce]

Between 72% and 77%. What a "democracy".

US counts it's "democracy period" since 1776. Russia - since 1991. Ask us 215 years from now, we may be more democratic then US))). In 1803 American democracy had a lot of it's own problems, and even slavery existed and was rather widespread)))

Basicly only white men could vote in 1803 and I'd argue even then America's elections were freerer than the one Russia is holding now in 2018.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

I would argue that Russia's elections are actually mostly free. Why? Because they have very little reason to rig them. Western polling agencies found Putin just as popular as their Russian counterpart agencies did. He is insanely popular there. My entire family there adores him, and there are very few who actually dislike him. Russia has a culture of wanting a strongman who gets up in the face of their enemies and commands with an iron fist. Believe it or not, some cultures prefer other methods of governance besides democracy. It's almost all that they have ever known. Besides a few points during the Russian Revolution and its multiple short provisional governments, and perestroika (debatable), Russians have basically been under a strongman iron fist rule for as long as people remember. Its really hard and unappealing to stray from something that is basically all that you have ever known, and it takes a miracle and a radical event to actually even have a chance of sparking change. I do think today's election in Russia was real, just with an entirely different populace.

[smoltchanov]

Between 72% and 77%. What a "democracy".

US counts it's "democracy period" since 1776. Russia - since 1991. Ask us 215 years from now, we may be more democratic then US))). In 1803 American democracy had a lot of it's own problems, and even slavery existed and was rather widespread)))

Basicly only white men could vote in 1803 and I'd argue even then America's elections were freerer than the one Russia is holding now in 2018.

I would argue the opposite..

[Middle-aged Europe]

That's without a doubt a HUGE success for the Supreme Leader! Four more decades!

[smoltchanov]

I would argue that Russia's elections are actually mostly free. Why? Because they have very little reason to rig them. Western polling agencies found Putin just as popular as their Russian counterpart agencies did. He is insanely popular there. My entire family there adores him, and there are very few who actually dislike him. Russia has a culture of wanting a strongman who gets up in the face of their enemies and commands with an iron fist. Believe it or not, some cultures prefer other methods of governance besides democracy. It's almost all that they have ever known. Besides a few points during the Russian Revolution and its multiple short provisional governments, and perestroika (debatable), Russians have basically been under a strongman iron fist rule for as long as people remember. Its really hard and unappealing to stray from something that is basically all that you have ever known, and it takes a miracle and a radical event to actually even have a chance of sparking change. I do think today's election in Russia was real, just with an entirely different populace.

+100. Those of us, who prefer a Western-style democracy (like me), are in deep minority in Russia, and it will take a very considerable time for situation to change. Remember the election of late 1991, few month after unsuccessfull communist coup? It seemed, that everything favored the pro-western "Choice of Russia" electoral block, with Egor Gaidar as it's leader. And what a "surprise" it was, when Zhirinovsky's LDPR finished first with some votes to spare? For everyone, but Russians, who knew how popular is "patriotic populism" in Russia. and how unpopular is standard western liberalism...You can't break a million's voters habit in a short time. And it's these habits, that were used by Putin and his team later...

[Beet]

The ironic thing is that both Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping are somewhat genuinely popular at home, although the extent that's due to various restrictions is hard to gauge.

[BudgieForce]

I would argue that Russia's elections are actually mostly free. Why? Because they have very little reason to rig them. Western polling agencies found Putin just as popular as their Russian counterpart agencies did. He is insanely popular there. My entire family there adores him, and there are very few who actually dislike him. Russia has a culture of wanting a strongman who gets up in the face of their enemies and commands with an iron fist. Believe it or not, some cultures prefer other methods of governance besides democracy. It's almost all that they have ever known. Besides a few points during the Russian Revolution and its multiple short provisional governments, and perestroika (debatable), Russians have basically been under a strongman iron fist rule for as long as people remember. Its really hard and unappealing to stray from something that is basically all that you have ever known, and it takes a miracle and a radical event to actually even have a chance of sparking change. I do think today's election in Russia was real, just with an entirely different populace.

Did you not see all the videos of ballot stuffing today or miss all the political suppression going on beforehand?

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

I would argue that Russia's elections are actually mostly free. Why? Because they have very little reason to rig them. Western polling agencies found Putin just as popular as their Russian counterpart agencies did. He is insanely popular there. My entire family there adores him, and there are very few who actually dislike him. Russia has a culture of wanting a strongman who gets up in the face of their enemies and commands with an iron fist. Believe it or not, some cultures prefer other methods of governance besides democracy. It's almost all that they have ever known. Besides a few points during the Russian Revolution and its multiple short provisional governments, and perestroika (debatable), Russians have basically been under a strongman iron fist rule for as long as people remember. Its really hard and unappealing to stray from something that is basically all that you have ever known, and it takes a miracle and a radical event to actually even have a chance of sparking change. I do think today's election in Russia was real, just with an entirely different populace.

Did you not see all the videos of ballot stuffing today or miss all the political suppression going on beforehand?

I said mostly. Ballot stuffing in some voting locations might change the vote by a couple points, but not significantly. And the only significant candidate they blocked was Navalny. So yes, not western free, but more or less free.

[Middle-aged Europe]

I said mostly. Ballot stuffing in some voting locations might change the vote by a couple points, but not significantly. And the only significant candidate they blocked was Navalny. So yes, not western free, but more or less free.

40% of the Russian electorate also didn't cast a vote which may have been because they feel that it wouldn't make any difference.

[Crumpets]

Mr. Putin has won over 70% in the election. He is a great man of the people.

Chad Putin beats nearest rival by 60 points. Virgin Trump gets fewer votes than Crooked Hillary. Sad!

[Karpatsky]

I would argue that Russia's elections are actually mostly free. Why? Because they have very little reason to rig them. Western polling agencies found Putin just as popular as their Russian counterpart agencies did. He is insanely popular there. My entire family there adores him, and there are very few who actually dislike him. Russia has a culture of wanting a strongman who gets up in the face of their enemies and commands with an iron fist. Believe it or not, some cultures prefer other methods of governance besides democracy. It's almost all that they have ever known. Besides a few points during the Russian Revolution and its multiple short provisional governments, and perestroika (debatable), Russians have basically been under a strongman iron fist rule for as long as people remember. Its really hard and unappealing to stray from something that is basically all that you have ever known, and it takes a miracle and a radical event to actually even have a chance of sparking change. I do think today's election in Russia was real, just with an entirely different populace.

Did you not see all the videos of ballot stuffing today or miss all the political suppression going on beforehand?

I said mostly. Ballot stuffing in some voting locations might change the vote by a couple points, but not significantly. And the only significant candidate they blocked was Navalny. So yes, not western free, but more or less free.

They do most of their suppression beforehand. If you can control who can register to run you don't need to do so much rigging.

Still ridiculous to call such a system 'free' though.