Russian Citizens in Jakarta and Bali Set for Legislative Vote

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Up to 500 Russian citizens are expected to cast their votes in the Russian legislative elections at a Jakarta polling station on Sunday, September 20, 2026. With 98 percent of the 40,000 Russian citizens in Indonesia residing in Bali, the total number of potential voters in the country is likely higher.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov said the number of voters at the Jakarta polling station could still change because Russian citizens are not required to re‑register or exercise their right to vote.

“We estimate that up to 500 people will come to vote in Jakarta,” Tolchenov told reporters at the Russian Embassy in Jakarta on Sunday, September 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He added that the number of voters at the Denpasar polling station is expected to be significantly higher than in Jakarta because most Russian citizens in Indonesia live in Bali.

Russian citizens in Indonesia can vote at the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Jakarta or at the Russian Consulate General in Denpasar. Both polling stations are open for 12 hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Once voting concludes, the vote count will take place on the same day.

Ambassador Tolchenov, who also serves as the head of the Russian election commission in Indonesia, said the legislative election is one of Russia’s most important domestic political events.

“This election is the most important domestic political event of the year because it will decide the composition of parliament,” he said.

He added that vote count results from the Indonesian polling stations would be approved by the election commission before undergoing further processing in Russia. As a result, the election results--including votes cast by Russian citizens abroad--are expected to be available as early as Monday, September 21, 2026.

The election for members of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, is being held concurrently with regional gubernatorial and legislative elections from September 18 to 20, 2026.

In these elections, voters can choose candidates from 11 participating political parties. According to Sputnik, approximately 20,700 legislative seats and regional leadership positions are being contested. ***