In public perception, an expression "democratic and fair elections" would often mean the elections where "our" candidate won. However, there was no understanding that the non-democratic regime could act under the same principle. Electoral democracy may be orchestrated, while voting results could be the consequence of manipulations, disinformation, influence of administrative resource during the campaign, or preventing candidates from running for the office. Elections are truly free when citiz...

When the rules are not set when the game begins, there is no winners. This is the program "Elections Inside Out". Let's talk about the rules of local elections.

Compared to the previous convocation, the Verkhovna Rada of the IX convocation has renewed by 80%. It became slightly younger, and the representation of women has increased by 9%. Besides that, for the first time in the history of Ukraine, the legislative body has a so-called mono party majority of the Servant of the People (248 MPs). These and other factors had definitely influenced the first year of the new, already ninth, convocation of Ukrainian Parliament.

Political parties have gained a monopoly on nomination of candidates in settlements with 10 thousand or more voters. Thus, they will have to ensure their lists are in line with gender quota requirements, or the lists will not be registered to participate in the election process. Amendments to the Election Code have come into force today. Thus, the representation of women in party lists will increase this fall.

On July 22, the President of Ukraine signed Draft Law #3485 amending the Election Code. Later the text was published in the official parliamentary edition Holos Ukrainy and entered into force as the Law of Ukraine.

Civil Netwrk OPORA has produced a short film "Open Election Data", explaining which sets of election data should be published and why. We particularly focused on the data from the Central Election Commission. Implementation of these proposals will increase transparency and accountability of the election process, as well as increase confidence in it.

On July, 16, 2020, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved in the second reading the draft law No 3485 on changes to electoral law. The decision that implies amendments to the Electoral Code, the Criminal Code and the Code on Administrative Offense, the laws on the CEC and the State Voter Register was supported by the 308 people’s deputies of Ukraine.

On July 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution scheduling regular 2020 local elections by 326 votes. The Parliament has exercised its constitutional authority to call regular local elections and provided legal certainty in the organization and conduct of the election campaign.