In the article the author considers the specificity of the political participation of inhabitants of the Russian megacities on the example of the appearance of Petersburgers on elections held in September 2016. On the basis of research project № 106-5474 on the topic “Sociopolitical mood of the population of Saint-Petersburg - 2016” (made on the basis of the Resource center of the Saint-Petersburg state University for sociological and Internet research in January-February 2016 Project leader: doctor of political Sciences, Professor, head of chair of political institutions and applied political studies O. V. Popova), analyzes the motives of the citizens regarding their upcoming participation in the elections of deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, assessment of their feelings of personal stability and their own economic well-being. Based on the obtained statistical data it is concluded that, despite a high degree of readiness to participate in the voting made in the spring, the low turnout is perhaps the result not so much political apathy or ill-considered political advertising, and the lack of discomfort associated with the economic crisis and the reluctance change in the existing political system.