The transformation of the electoral behavior of Russians in the changing electoral legislation in the 2000s

This article examines the transformation of the determinants of electoral behavior in the elections for the regional executive and legislative power until 2013. The author comes to the conclusion that the instrumental model of the explanations of electoral behavior in the elections for the Legislative Assembly is not functional in the analysis of recent election cycles. At the same time, the voting in the gubernatorial elections, earlier explained by ideological identification, has close connection with socio-economic models. Finally, the author provides several key explanations of this transformation: the volatility of electoral preferences, the restrictions of voters in assessing the benefits and costs of choice and the influence of informal institutions and practices on the regional election process