Putin votes in parliamentary elections

2011-12-04 38

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin casts his vote in parliamentary elections widely seen as a test of his ruling party, United Russia.
Opinion polls show that United Russia is likely to win a majority, but less than the 315 seats it currently has at the 450-seat lower house of parliament.
If Putin's party gets less than two-thirds of seats it will be stripped of its so called constitutional majority, which allows it to change the constitution and even approve the impeachment of the president.
Opposition parties say the election is unfair because the authorities support United Russia with money and television air time.
They also predicted vote-rigging, to boost support for Vladimir Putin's party.