In Pictures: Russia votes

 

From the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea across 11 time zones, Russia’s electorate went to cast their votes in a presidential election that Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win.

An elderly woman visits a polling station during the presidential election in Moscow. (Reuters)

It is an election that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win. The only question is how many will actually turn up to vote and by what margin he will win.

That margin is expected to be a comfortable margin, but one candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, has drawn some attention.

Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak walks out of a voting booth at a polling station during the presidential election in Moscow. (Reuters)

But while elections are a serious matter, there were those who took the time to have fun while casting their vote.

Members of a local Cossack community dance outside a polling station during the presidential election in Rostov-on-Don. (Reuters)

And much to the horror of neighbouring Ukraine, the election went ahead in the Crimea, almost four years to the day after it was annexed by Russia.

Cadets of the Nakhimov naval academy vote at a polling station during Russia’s presidential election in Sevastopol, Crimea. (AFP)

Election authorities said turnout nationwide Sunday was 34.7 percent at noon Moscow time. There are some 111 million voters and the regime is hoping that most of them will cast their ballot. Most of them wore their thick overcoats. Some did not.

Members of the winter swimming club “Polar Bear” visit a polling station to cast their votes during the presidential election in the city of Barnaul. (Reuters)

Long before the residents of Kaliningrad woke up in the morning, the residents in Vladivostok had cast their votes. Results from the Pacific were expected to come in shortly.

Members of a local election commission empty a ballot box before starting to count votes during the presidential election in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. (Reuters)

And of course, this whole week President Vladimir Putin has been encouraging the country’s voters to cast their ballot.

Members of a local election commission empty a ballot box before starting to count votes during the presidential election in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. (Reuters)

With snow on the ground and temperatures below freezing, there were some voters who were hungry.

People cook a traditional meal near a polling station during the presidential election in Kazan, Russia. (Reuters)