The draft Law on Making Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine on Improvement of Electoral Legislation secures widening the powers of district election commissions, restricting the membership of "technical" political parties in election commissions, elaboration of detailed requirements for the electoral district formation, setting maximum size of electoral funds for political parties and candidates. Besides that, the bill imposes restrictions on the election campaigning, strengthens the rights of...

On June 2, 117 special election campaigns, city, village, town heads, and by-election to local councils of different levels, came to an end. However, an information explosion occurred on the basis of special elections of city mayor in Vasylkiv (Kyiv oblast). This story, particularly manipulations practiced during the Election Day, should be considered as a case-study.

According to the rules of drama, if a rifle is hanging on the wall, it will fire. Electoral practice says, if ballots are stolen somewhere, they will be put in ballot boxes in some other place. The only possible exception is when large social resonance draws attention of the media, observers, and politicians. In result, the system hangs over and shifts to the passive phase, or ignores all the external factors and steers full steam ahead the goal.

  On June 2, 2013 observers from the Civil Network OPORA have conducted the parallel tabulation of turnout and votes during special elections of mayors in Vasylkiv (Kyiv oblast) and Berehove (Zakarpattia oblast) cities, which covered 100% of polling stations. Vasylkiv Mayoral election was widely discussed by national mass media. It is connected to tense electoral race, violations noticed during the voting day and vote count, present Members of Parliament and national-level politicians. For u...

On June 2, 2013 special elections of Berehove city mayor were held. Civil Network OPORA was conducting parallel vote tabulation in Berehove. OPORA observers were present at all polling stations of the town and gathered voting results data from Precinct Election Commissions

On June 2, 2013 special elections of Vasylkiv Сity Mayor were held. Civil Network OPORA was conducting parallel vote tabulation in Vasylkiv. OPORA observers were present at all polling stations of the town and gathered voting results data from Precinct Election Commissions.

At 10pm, polling stations in Vasylkiv (Kyiv oblast) and Berehove (Zakarpattia oblast), which conducted special elections of city mayors, were closed. OPORA was conducting parallel turnout tabulation at all polling stations of these cities. At 10pm, the turnout in Vasylkiv was 35.3 %. Such data were provided by the territorial election commission. According to OPORA's calculations – 32.5 %. Territorial election commission has informed that turnout in Berehove was 49.96%. OPORA observers,...

At 8pm, the voter turnout on special elections of Vasylkiv Mayor (Kyiv oblast) was 34.15 %. Such data were provided by the territorial election commission. According to the parallel turnout tabulation, conducted by OPORA observers, it is 31.44%.