On September 5, Facebook community "Typical Dniprodzerzhynsk" published a post about possible fraud with citizens changing their election addresses. Allegedly, residents of close villages are being brought to the State Register of Voters in Kamianske so that they can change their electoral address and vote in the city.
Representatives of the State Register of Voters in Kamianske refused to comment on this information to OPORA. Press Officer at the Kamianske City Police Department Olena Tymchenko gave OPORA the following comment: "The city police is gathering facts on this matter. We made the corresponding entry in the Unified Journal of Notifications about Offences.
As of September 9, compared to the data as of September 1, the number of individuals who changed their electoral addresses within the Dnipropetrovsk oblast has tripled (671 and 1,859 persons respectively). As for the Kamianske city community, the number of appeals for the change of election address from voters is as follows: 88 people arrived in the community, 122 left, 78 people changed their election address within the community.
OPORA has already reported that the biggest number of appeals for the change of election address into the community were submitted in Dnipropetrovsk city and Chumaky village community in Dnipro raion – 407 and 72 appeals respectively. As of September 9, the number had increased to 956 in Dnipro raion and 149 in Chumaky village community.
According to Article 8(2) of the Law of Ukraine on the State Register of Voters, election address of a voter coincides with his/her registration address, based on the Law of Ukraine on the Freedom of Movement and Free Choice of Residence in Ukraine, unless otherwise is provided by this article. Article 8(3) of the same Law says a voter may appeal to a State Voter Register maintenance body for a change his election address to another than is provided in Article 8(2). According to Article 20(4) of the Law on the State Voter Register, if a voter applies for the change of election address based on Article 8(3) of this Law, the application must include an address where he/she lives and which is required to be the new election address.
According to Article 158 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, deliberate provision of false information to the State Voter Register or other unauthorized interference in the work of the State Voter Register shall be punished with imprisonment for 2 to 4 years with deprivation of the right to hold the certain positions or engage in the certain activities for 5 years. If a crime is committed repeatedly, in conspiracy by a group of people, of by officials, it shall be punished with deprivation of liberty for 7 to 10 years with no right to hold the certain positions or be involved into the certain activities for 5 years.
We would like to remind that the procedure for the change of election address, introduced by the Election Code, has entered into force in Ukraine on July 1. Voters can use it until September 10, both online and by submitting an application to the State Voter Register maintenance body at their place of residence. More than 5 million citizens can use it elect their local government in local elections this fall as well as the future elections. OPORA has made a detailed step-by-step instructions on how to submit this application. It should be noted that if an election address coincides with registration address, it's possible to verify who else is included under this election address at website of the State Voter Register.
For comment, please contact:
Vadym Holovchenko, Election Observation Coordinator at Civil Network OPORA in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
tel .: 0678506592
e-mail: [email protected]
Oksana Konovets, Communication Manager at Civil Network OPORA in Dnipropetrovsk oblast
tel .: 0503637536
Reference: OPORA's observation is aimed to provide impartial assessment of election administration and process, facilitate free and fair election, and prevent violations. Civil Network OPORA has been realizing a wide-scale observation of regular local elections, to be held on October 25. We have deployed 188 observers nationwide, and short-term observers will join them on the Election Day. OPORA also monitors the use of budget resources for indirect campaigning, and civic ombudsmen inspect polling premises in terms of accessibility, as well as protect voting rights of citizens.