A dozen years of elections is, perhaps, the major positive result of late Soviet and post-Soviet transformation in Russia. Because of these elections, it is now possible to discuss Russia's transition toward democracy, perhaps electoral democracy.

Since March 1989, when relatively free and fair elections to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR took place, Russian citizens have been coming to polling stations at least once a year. There have been five national parliamentary elections (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999), three presidential elections (1991, 1996, 2000), four national referenda (two in 1991, two in 1993); four rounds of elections for regional legislatures (1990, 1993–4, 1996–7, 2000–1); and two rounds of gubernatorial elections (1996–7, 2000–1).

The country passed through two complete electoral cycles (1995–7 and 1999–2001), when elections to all elective offices took place; and through two incomplete cycles, simultaneous elections to Soviets of all levels in 1990, and elections for both houses of the Federal Assembly and regional legislatures in 1993–4.

The number of elections and elective offices in Russia, however, is relatively small. There are approximately 3,000 elections once in four years and about 20,000 elective offices.

The total number of officials and personnel taking part in the administration of elections is much larger: about 45,000 officials at the level of the federal, regional, district (in large regions), and territorial election commissions, and several hundred thousand more at the level of 96,000 precincts, plus several hundred thousand ordinary members of precinct commissions composed of teachers, trade union activists, and other grassroots citizens.