Russia's ruling United Russia party leads in parliamentary elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister and Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev visit the party's campaign headquarters following a parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia, September 18, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW -- Exit polls showed that Russia's ruling party the United Russia led in Sunday's election of the lower house of the parliament with 44.5 percent of votes.

The other three parties that gained enough votes to enter the seventh State Duma are the Liberal Democratic Party with a projected 15.3 percent of votes, the Communist Party with 14.9 percent and A Just Russia with 8.1 percent, according to the exit poll conducted by the All-Russia Center for Public Opinion.

Another exit poll by the Public Opinion Foundation also showed that the ruling party is in a leading role with 48.7 percent of votes.

According to the Central Election Commission, violations registered at Sunday's elections were significantly lower than previous ones.

The United Russia party won 49.54 percent of votes in 2011 elections.

The party's victory in State Duma elections is "evident," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at the United Russia headquarter, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the party's chairman, has announced its victory.

"I would like to thank all citizens who came to the polling stations and demonstrated their civic position by voting. A significant part of them voted for United Russia. We can say that our party has won," said Medvedev.

There are over 94,000 polling stations, including those in closed territories -- military garrisons, prisons and hospitals, open in Russia on the polling day, and 371 overseas stations in 145 countries.

The elections rolled through 11 time zones starting from eastern Kamchatka peninsula and finishing in western Kaliningrad.

Established in December 2001, United Russia is Russia's dominant party, with more than 2 million members across the country.