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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Russia reforms: Early results suggest President Putin victory in reform vote | Russia reforms: Early results suggest President Putin victory in reform vote |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Russians have strongly supported constitutional reforms that could keep President Vladimir Putin in power until 2036, early results indicate. | Russians have strongly supported constitutional reforms that could keep President Vladimir Putin in power until 2036, early results indicate. |
| With 20% of ballots counted, more than 72% of voters backed the measures, the electoral commission said. | With 20% of ballots counted, more than 72% of voters backed the measures, the electoral commission said. |
| The reforms would reset Mr Putin's term limits to zero in 2024, allowing him to serve two more six-year terms. | The reforms would reset Mr Putin's term limits to zero in 2024, allowing him to serve two more six-year terms. |
| Opposition members have said he is trying to become "president for life", a claim Mr Putin denies. | Opposition members have said he is trying to become "president for life", a claim Mr Putin denies. |
| There is no independent scrutiny of the seven-day vote, and copies of the new constitution appeared in bookshops during the week. | There is no independent scrutiny of the seven-day vote, and copies of the new constitution appeared in bookshops during the week. |
| The last polling stations to close in the vast country spanning 11 time zones shut their doors at 18:00 GMT in the western enclave of Kaliningrad on Russia's Baltic coast. | The last polling stations to close in the vast country spanning 11 time zones shut their doors at 18:00 GMT in the western enclave of Kaliningrad on Russia's Baltic coast. |
| Even before the vote had ended, the internal affairs ministry said there had been no violations that could affect the result, Interfax reported. | Even before the vote had ended, the internal affairs ministry said there had been no violations that could affect the result, Interfax reported. |
| Several hundred opponents of the constitutional changes staged protests in Moscow and St Petersburg. | Several hundred opponents of the constitutional changes staged protests in Moscow and St Petersburg. |
| Voting began across Russia last week, and the electoral commission put turnout at more than 64%. | Voting began across Russia last week, and the electoral commission put turnout at more than 64%. |
| The Russian president and his supporters say the reforms - in total, more than 200 changes - are needed to ensure national stability. | The Russian president and his supporters say the reforms - in total, more than 200 changes - are needed to ensure national stability. |
| Mr Putin, aged 67, has not said he will run again for the presidency when his latest term runs out in 2024 - but has said it is vital he has the option to do so. | Mr Putin, aged 67, has not said he will run again for the presidency when his latest term runs out in 2024 - but has said it is vital he has the option to do so. |
| He has been in power in Russia, either as president or prime minister, for 20 years. | He has been in power in Russia, either as president or prime minister, for 20 years. |
| Other conservative reforms include a ban on same-sex marriage and introduce a reference to Russia's ancestral "faith in God". | Other conservative reforms include a ban on same-sex marriage and introduce a reference to Russia's ancestral "faith in God". |
| Both Russia's houses of parliament have already adopted the changes, but President Putin ordered a public vote in a bid to legitimise the reforms. It was delayed from April due to the coronavirus outbreak. | Both Russia's houses of parliament have already adopted the changes, but President Putin ordered a public vote in a bid to legitimise the reforms. It was delayed from April due to the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Russia's new constitution | Russia's new constitution |
| The amendments cover dozens of existing articles, and add several new ones. They fall broadly into three categories and many enshrine things in the constitution that are already federal law: | The amendments cover dozens of existing articles, and add several new ones. They fall broadly into three categories and many enshrine things in the constitution that are already federal law: |
| Banning any action aimed at the "expropriation" of Russian territory, or calls for that. | Banning any action aimed at the "expropriation" of Russian territory, or calls for that. |
| Protecting the "historical truth" of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and banning any "belittling" of the feats of those who fought. | Protecting the "historical truth" of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and banning any "belittling" of the feats of those who fought. |
| Protection of the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. | Protection of the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. |
| Senior officials barred from holding foreign passports, residency or overseas bank accounts. | Senior officials barred from holding foreign passports, residency or overseas bank accounts. |
| Refers to Russians' faith in God, as handed down by their ancestors. | Refers to Russians' faith in God, as handed down by their ancestors. |
| Pensions to be index-linked. | Pensions to be index-linked. |
| Minimum wage no less than subsistence minimum income. | Minimum wage no less than subsistence minimum income. |
| Forming a "responsible attitude" to animals. | Forming a "responsible attitude" to animals. |
| State Council to set "direction of domestic and foreign policy and socio-economic priorities". | State Council to set "direction of domestic and foreign policy and socio-economic priorities". |
| A person can only hold the presidency for two terms (replacing "two consecutive terms"). | A person can only hold the presidency for two terms (replacing "two consecutive terms"). |
| In the case of a person already holding the presidency, previous terms will not count - the so-called "zeroing" of Vladimir Putin's terms so far. | In the case of a person already holding the presidency, previous terms will not count - the so-called "zeroing" of Vladimir Putin's terms so far. |