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According to three major polling agencies in Russia, about 65 percent of voters may cast their ballots in support of United Russia in the elections for the State Duma on December 2, with a predicted turnout of 60-74 percent.

The preliminary forecast of elections outcome based on a poll conducted on November 17-18 by the Public Opinion Fund (FOM) reported that turnout may reach 58-59 percent, with most of the voters casting their ballots for United Russia. 62 percent of the interviewed people revealed their intention to support the pro-Kremlin party, according to the poll’s results at http://bd.fom.ru/report/cat/prognoz221107 (in Russian).

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) may harvest 11 percent of the votes and the Communist Party, favored by Russian elderly people, may count on 10 percent of the votes. A Just Russia is expected to gather about 8 percent of the votes. The Agrarian Party, Yabloko, the Union of Right Forces (SPS), Patriots of Russia and other parties may count on no more than 1 or 2 percent of the voters’ support, the poll revealed.

Another polling agency, VTsIOM (Russian center for studying public opinion), forecasts a 74 percent turnout, with 64 percent of those polled intending to vote for United Russia. According to VTsIOM’s poll results at http://wciom.ru/novosti/press-vypuski/press-vypusk/single/9202.html, the Communist Party may collect 7 percent of the votes and LDPR may count on 5 percent. A Just Russia may take 6 percent of the votes. The remaining parties are expected to gather no more than 1 or 2 percent.

According to the Levada polling center, 63 percent of those interviewed expressed their intention to participate in the upcoming elections. United Russia enjoys the support of 67 percent of the polled, while the Communist Party may expect 14 percent of the votes, the poll results at http://www.levada.ru/press/2007111600.html said. LDPR may receive 6 percent of the votes and Just Russia may count on 4 percent.

The Levada Center points out that 85 percent of those interviewed do not follow the twists and turns of the election campaign. 64 percent do not watch television debates, the agency said. 60 percent do not talk about the elections with their relatives, friends and colleagues, saying that there is nothing to discuss.

According to the Levada Center, 48 percent of those interviewed are sure that the upcoming elections are an imitation of legitimate democracy, while 34 percent believe that the election struggle is genuine.