The first local elections in the united territorial communities, scheduled for December 11, 2016, were held in compliance with Ukrainian laws and international standards for elections, while the election campaigns of candidates for the most part adhered to the principle of competitiveness. According to observers, there were no pre-planned or systematic violations recorded in the majority of territorial communities, although the election process in some of these communities didn’t fully comply...

This OPORA report includes evaluation of the quality of election procedures and the overall election campaign; it was performed by OPORA’s official observers in October-November 2016.

The unusually low level of pre-election activity on the part of potential and registered candidates participating in election process, isolated cases of violation of legal requirements by candidates, public conflict between supporters and opponents of integration of territorial communities – such are the peculiarities of first elections in the united territorial communities scheduled for December 11 and December 18, 2016, which were recorded by public observers of Civil Network OPORA in Octob...

One of the most important factors of efficient management of the first local elections in the united territorial communities is the proper operation of the territorial election commissions, which are authorized to create single-mandate election districts or territorial election districts in order to held the elections of the people’s deputies for the relevant village, township and city councils, to register candidates and their agents, authorized representatives, representatives of local part...

Representatives of civil society, expert community, media and members of Ukrainian Parliament have learned about opinions of candidates for members of the Central Election Commission concerning important election administration issues, as well as reforming of the CEC and electoral system as a whole.

The Parliament should immediately consider termination of office of the twelve commissioners with the expired terms and, subsequently, consider the President’s slate of nominees. Once the new CEC composition is approved by Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada should consider the amendments to the Constitution and to the Law on the Central Election Commission that seek to strengthen the independence of the Commission and enforce Commissioners to hold their posts and observe the legall...

Public discussion between candidates for members of the Central Election Commission, submitted by the President of Ukraine, will be held on 23 September in the Parus Business Center (2 Mechnykova St., Kyiv city).