Russian soldiers have been among the first to vote in the country's parliamentary election. Polling stations open in the far east of Russia later this evening but some voters in remote outposts, like troops at a base in Kirgyzstan, are required to cast their ballots earlier. 109 million people are eligible to vote and authorities have launched a media blitz to encourage them to do so. But surveys predict a turnout of between 55 and 60 per cent. Polls also indicate that the pro-Kremlin United Russia party which has President Vladimir Putin's backing will emerge as the biggest winner. A drive against high level corruption and bureaucratic red tape is central to its platform. Even if it fails to win enough seats to dominate the Duma it is expected to be able to count on the support of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, led by ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky. It is predicted to win around 8 per cent of the vote, comfortably ahead of the five per cent threshold required to claim seats in lower house. United Russia's gains could come at the expense of the Communists, Russia's main opposition party. The party, led by Genady Zyuganov, has been hit by a damaging split since the last election in 1999 when it won 113 of the Duma's 450 seats. But it is the pro-business, liberal parties which could suffer most in this election. Some analysts believe Yabloko and the Union of Right Wing forces may fail to reach the five per cent mark, and so cease to a force within the parliament. Half the Duma's 450 seats are elected from these lists with the remainder being won on a first-past-the-post system from single member constituencies. Voting ends tomorrow evening at 7pm CET and the first exit poll predictions are expected shortly after. Also Russia has tightened security at polling booths, train and bus stations as the country votes. An apparent bomb attack on a packed commuter train near the Chechen border has propelled security concerns to the forefront of many people's minds. To add to public jitters, there are reports police destroyed an explosive device at another train station in the south of the country. The death toll from Friday's suspected bomb attack has risen to 42, at least 150 people were injured, 21 are in a critical condition. So far some 30 bodies have been identified, and funeral preparations are underway. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Local residents walk past election posters of a candidate running for Tver governor in Tver, central Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003. For all the Duma candidates' efforts, Tver's voters appear to be focusing on the race for governor, which will be held on the same say as the parliamentary vote. (AP Photo/Sergei Ponomarev)