Five hours before voting closes, Vladimir Putin has been announced as the winner of a referendum that will allow him to stay in power until 2036. Today is the final day of the 2020 Russian constitutional referendum, a national vote on proposed amendments to the Russian constitution that started on June 25. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-referendum-putin-07-01-20-intl/index.html">Per CNN</a>, Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has already released a preliminary tally of results in a nationwide referendum on constitutional reform, revealing that 74.54% of the citizens have voted in support of the amendments. <img class=" wp-image-12601986" src="https://img.vt.co/2020/07/cb399b51-pa-54383596.jpg" alt="" width="554" height="344" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]] The image above shows Putin visiting a polling station at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Currently aged 67, this means the Russian president could seize power until the age of 84. Per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-referendum-putin-rule-2036-yes-vote-a9595711.html">The Independent</a>, the current results are in line with exit polls published by state pollsters FOM and VTsIOM. The ballot asked for a yes or no answer to 206 amendments in entirety. The proposal to reset Putin's term limits was only one, with official campaign literature invariably focused on the other 205 changes. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-referendum-putin-07-01-20-intl/index.html">CNN</a> states that the amendments were "designed to appeal to conservative voters", including a ban on gay marriage, guarantees for indexation of pensions, and other social benefits.

Preliminary results declare Vladimir Putin winner of referendum that will allow him to rule until 2036

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