Seven hours ahead of the polls opening in Moscow, voters were already out in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. Around 1.5 million people are eligible to vote in the region.
In the country's last presidential election in 2004 turnout was almost 66%. December's Parliamentary vote saw a 58% turnout in the Far East. The turnout is expected to be slightly larger this time, thanks partly to a big advertising campaign. No election observers have come to the Primorye region, but that hasn't stopped a cross-section of society turning out to have their say.