FACTBOX: How Russia voted in last parliament vote

(Reuters) - Russia was voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election expected to hand a big victory to President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party and help him keep a hold on power after his term ends next year.

The following is a breakdown of how Russia voted in the last election to the lower house of parliament, or State Duma, in 2003.

A direct comparison is not possible because the December 2 election is being run under new rules, under which lawmakers are elected exclusively from party lists. In 2003, there was a mixed party list and constituency system.

SEATS IN PARLIAMENT

United Russia......................300

Communist Party....................52

Motherland (a nationalist party not running in this year's

election ..........................37

LDPR (a nationalist party).........36

Independents ......................23

Seats left vacant .................3

** This breakdown changed during the parliament's term because lawmakers joined other factions and the Motherland faction ceased to exist.

SHARE OF THE NATIONAL VOTE (percentage of votes cast for each party in the party list section of the election)