Russia's Central Election Commission says the turnout in the presidential election has exceeded 50 percent.
The commission says 51.9 percent of Russia's nearly 111 million eligible voters have cast ballots as of 5 p.m. Moscow time (1400 GMT).
Election officials say efforts to encourage a higher turnout are in line with the law. Some Russians have reported being pressured by employers to show up and vote.
Election commission chief Ella Pamfilova also says officials around the country are taking quick measures in response to claims of violations.
Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.
Russia's Central Election Commission says it is quickly responding to claims of violations in the presidential vote.
Commission chief Ella Pamfilova says "we are immediately reacting to all claims no matter where they come from." She says officials quickly sealed a ballot box in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don where ballot stuffing was reported.
Election officials have responded similarly to allegations of ballot stuffing in the town of Lyubertsy just outside Moscow and the far eastern town of Artyom and have been looking into several other complaints.
Pamfilova's deputy, Nikolai Bulayev, says "we are not hiding ... even the smallest violations."
Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says he has boycotted the presidential election and is advising other Russians to do the same.
Navalny has been barred from the presidential campaign because of a criminal conviction widely seen as politically motivated. He has urged his supporters not to vote because of the absence of any real competition in Sunday's election, which President Vladimir Putin is set to win easily.
Navalny says in a video posted on YouTube that "on election day, one should usually want to say 'I voted,' but in fact I'm here to say that I didn't go to vote."
He criticized the seven contenders challenging Putin for failing to protest ballot stuffing and other irregularities that were tainting the election, saying on his blog that "such candidates aren't worthy of your vote."
Russian election officials say they are looking into several incidents of ballot stuffing in the presidential vote.
One incident was recorded in the town of Lyubertsy just outside Moscow. Irina Konovalova, the head of the election commission for the Moscow region, says all ballots in the box were declared invalid.
And in the far eastern town of Artyom a man tossed several ballots into the box, according to Tatiana Gladkhikh, the head of the regional election commission. She says the ballot box was sealed and the man was arrested.
Russia's Central Election Commission also said it was looking into claims of ballot stuffing in Siberia's Kemerovo region.
Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.
Russian opposition presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak has cast her ballot and urged Vladimir Putin's critics to vote instead of boycotting.
Sobchak, a 36-year-old former TV star, told reporters in Moscow that the higher the support for Putin in Sunday's vote, "the tougher the system" Russians will face in his new term.
Sobchak argued against the boycott called for by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is barred from running. She said "every extra percentage point" for Putin is a result of those who refuse or don't bother to vote.
Sobchak called on Putin's critics to "come together."
Critics think Sobchak has the tacit support of the Kremlin so that the election looks more democratic, which she denies. She is the only candidate who has openly criticized Putin in the campaign.
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