Nalchik residents spoke about their attitude towards voting on the first day of the elections.

In Kabardino-Balkaria, a three-day voting process has begun for the elections to the State Duma and municipal authorities. Some voters considered participation mandatory, while others explained to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" why they would not go to the polling station.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", before the elections, voters in Kabardino-Balkaria pointed to weak pre-election activity, a lack of information about candidates, and disappointment in the ability to influence the voting results. Residents of the republic surveyed by "Caucasian Knot" hardly noticed any pre-election campaigning in their localities, and named the main problems as the rise in utility tariffs and prices for food and medicine, the state of healthcare and roads, as well as resettlement from emergency housing.

Today, 354 polling stations opened in Kabardino-Balkaria for voting, which will last until September 20. The material is not a public opinion poll, does not claim to be representative, and is not intended to determine the political preferences of voters, intentions to vote for specific candidates, or to predict election results.

A resident of Nalchik Marina Makumova voted on the very first day. She admitted that the choice was not easy for her. "I thought for a long time about who to vote for, I read the ballots carefully. The parties represented in the State Duma are well-known, and, to be honest, I found it difficult to prefer one of them, as their positions do not differ much, especially since they did not voice their programs during the current election campaign. In the end, of course, I made a choice," the woman stated.

According to her, there were commission members, police officers, and a few voters at the polling station. She did not notice any observers, and there was no queue of voters.

Not everyone in her circle plans to vote, noted Makumova. A neighbor told her that she sees no benefit from the activities of deputies: pensions remain meager, and food, medicine, and utility services have become more expensive. Another neighbor, according to Makumova, would like to ask the deputies where the gasoline has gone.

Marina Kardanova, who works in one of the official structures of the republic, was one of the first to arrive at the polling station and is convinced that voting is necessary.

"No one obliged me, I came by the call of my heart, as they say. I believe that the State Duma does a great and useful job, including the deputies from our republic. Over the past few years, a number of laws aimed at social protection of citizens have been adopted. For example, the law on maternity capital – the program's action has been extended until 2030, thanks to which many families have been able to acquire housing. The law on the annual indexation of pensions for working citizens, the law on payments for caring for the disabled, the very recent law on annual family payments, and much more. Those who criticize lawmakers do not know all this or do not want to know," she believes.

A journalist from one of the local publications explained that she will go to vote on September 19, as she does not have time to come to the polling station today. In her opinion, there was enough campaigning: video reports were shown on television, and the newspaper where she works published campaign materials. "A person who is interested in the political life of the country had the opportunity to find information about both the parties and the candidates," she asserts.

She considers refusing to go to the polling station as an expression of protest, not spoiling the ballot. "Going to the polling station to spoil the ballot is, in my opinion, childishness. If you have come, make a choice," the journalist reasoned.

According to her, there are no people with protest sentiments in her circle. "There used to be such people when I just started working, but now there are none. Everyone understands the importance of elections for the country," she concluded.

A pensioner from Nalchik Ludmila Kumukova will not go to the elections. She lamented the difficulties with paying utility bills: to pay for cold water, she has to travel monthly to the "Vodokanal" office and stand in line, as payments are not accepted anywhere else. The same goes for garbage collection and electricity.

"Is it really impossible to solve such a simple problem as accepting payments, so that people do not waste time and effort? Why can't additional points be opened, for example, at the post office, as it used to be?" she exclaimed.

She sees no point in voting. "It seems that deputies should represent the interests of citizens in government bodies, but in reality, this is not felt at all. They themselves become part of the authorities, detach from the people, so I see no point in voting for anyone," Kumukova explained.

A Nalchik resident Vladimir Tluppov never votes. "I see no point in it. As the leader of all times and peoples said, 'it doesn't matter how you vote, it matters how they count.' No matter how we vote, they will write it as needed, they will choose who they need," he stated.

Pensioner Nina Khamukova, whose brother is a first-group disabled person, has been unable to obtain a social payment under the long-term care system for the second year. She is denied, citing a lack of funds, and is told to wait until someone from the program drops out. Nevertheless, she plans to go to the polling station. "I will go vote so that my ballot is not used," the woman explained.