It's not just literacy, although that's nearly required to engage in the public discourse. It's really more like indoctrination. The voting populace has to have an implicit belief in public institutions, believe that attempting to vote or losing a vote is not cataclysmic (not a great reason for violence or retribution), and have patience that the system will gradually correct with future votes rather than require a authoritarian to restore order. I think you can also add a distaste for cults of personalities, and a willingness to vote in disagreement with religious leaders. Lastly, voters have to have a shared delusion that their vote matters, which it practically does not (economic value of voting is negative for the individual).

Russia likely doesn't meet these requirements, and the U.S. has had many failed democratic experiments in places like Afghanistan where this culture is missing.