Voting is under way in elections for Russia's lower house of parliament. Polling started in Moscow and central areas, home to the bulk of Russia's population, at 5.00 am local time - nine hours after it began in the far east. Some 23 parties are running for 450 places in the State Duma, with a party backed by President Vladimir Putin, United Russia, almost certain to win. Election officials say turnout has passed the minimum 25% needed for the poll to be considered valid. Turnout by 14. 00 local time stood at 32.8% with seven hours of voting left to go, the central election commission chief was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Alexander Veshnyakov also said voting levels were lower than in the last parliamentary elections in 1999, when the final turnout was 61.85%.

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