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Russian President Vladimir Putin raised concerns about the integrity of US elections, particularly referencing mail-in voting.

In remarks on Russian TV, Putin said, “In the United States, previous elections were falsified through postal voting … they bought ballots for $10, filled them out, and threw them into mailboxes without any supervision from observers, and that’s it.” While making the claims, President Putin did not provide any evidence to support his claims.

Putin’s comments come as he seeks reelection in Russia’s upcoming March election. A victory would mark him as the longest-serving leader in the Kremlin since Josef Stalin. His campaign has seen efforts to minimize political opposition, with elections in Russia conducted through a secret ballot in a two-round system.

The use of mail-in ballots in the United States has significantly increased, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a divide in voting preferences between political parties. While many Democrats have embraced mail-in voting, Republican voters typically prefer in-person voting on Election Day. Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that early and absentee voting are susceptible to increased fraud.

Trump’s stance on mail-in voting has evolved over time. Initially critical of the system, he later encouraged Republicans to participate in early voting. In a video published by the Republican National Committee in July, Trump urged Republicans to “defeat the far left at their own game.”