Question

Why did Putin change the electoral system relating to presidential elections in Russia?

Answer 1

President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered a significant reform in the rules for parliamentary elections, a move that could help solidify his power and influence towards the end of his current term and insulate him from dwindling popular support for United Russia, the party that nominated him and currently holds a majority in Parliament.

The new system, which is scheduled to be introduced by the Central Election Commission replaced a strict party-list voting scheme. In less than a decade, it will be the second major reform to the legislative voting process and basically leads to a return to a mechanism that had been in effect until 2003. The plan also comes only a year after reports of systematic fraud during the December 2011 parliamentary elections set off a series of major street protests in Moscow.

Individual candidates endorsed by the majority party tend to have a tremendous advantage in recognition of name and resources in local races, and because candidates running as independents locally can often be encouraged to join the majority party when the new parliament is formed, using the presidential administration's advantages.