What to know about Russia's election, sure to hand Putin another term

A member of a local election commission prepares a polling station with a sign that reads "Election of the President of Russia March 15-17 2024" for early voting in the village of Sennaya Guba, Republic of Karelia, on March 10. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images)

MOSCOW — Russians head to the polls Friday through Sunday for presidential elections certain to deliver President Vladimir Putin a fifth term in office, cementing his already quarter-century hold on the Kremlin through at least 2030.

The Russian leader faces no serious competition on the ballot — his three competitors are Duma lawmakers who almost uniformly support his agenda.