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.

Special elections of mayor in Vasylkiv city

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 undetermined reasons, 269 ballots were absent in 18 polling stations, what is 3.2% of those participated in voting process[1][2]. It was revealed when matching the number of control coupons with signatures in voter list and number of ballots in ballot boxes.  There was also a number of unused ballots at some polling stations[3]. There were incidents, when OPORA observers noticed unknown persons, which didn't have legal right to vote on these local elections, trying to get ballot papers.

72% of OPORA observers have informed that they trust vote tabulation on the certain polling station, 28% - don't trust.

According to the parallel turnout tabulation conducted by observers, 32.28% of voters (officially - 35.27%) have used their right to choose a mayor in Vasylkiv city. Parallel vote tabulation has shown a margin of only 240 votes between leaders in this election.  A candidate from the Party of Regions Volodymyr Sabadash have received 30.39% or 3 thousand 395 votes. A candidate from the UDAR party Serhii Sabov have received 28.25% or 3 thousand 155 votes.

Taking into consideration manipulations with ballots, such an inconsiderable margin between two main candidates endangers the recognition of election results by the society. OPORA calls all political forces to investigate in detail all the noticed violations and promote their legal assessment. Candidates for mayor of Vasylkiv city, including Volodymyr Sabadash, should be patient about judicial examination and other legal measures concerning recorded violations of electoral legislation. In order to secure publicity of investigations into electoral fraud in Vasylkiv, it is worth to create the Temporary Investigation Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Special elections of mayor in Berehove city

Special elections of mayor in Berehove city were held without major violations and conflicts. During the voting process, as well as tabulation of votes and determination of voting results, the situation at polling stations was uneventful, without illegitimate intrusion into or influence on the election process.

The voting procedure was properly organized, despite some imperfections noticed by observers. In particular, the problems concerned voter list. It's worth to mention that the procedure of including voters to the extract from the General Voters' List for voting at the place of residence has the certain drawbacks. The voters informed that despite not having applied for, they were included to the corresponding extract. There also were incidents of unfriendly or rude attitude of PEC members to mass media representatives. The vote count procedure was open and, with few exceptions, consistent with established law.

85% of OPORA observers have stated that they trust the vote count on Berohove Mayoral election. 15% of observers don't trust vote count in polling stations.

According to the parallel turnout tabulation conducted by OPORA, 48.73% of voters (officially - 49.96%) participated in Berohove Mayoral election.  OPORA's data show that candidate from the Democratic Party of Hungarians of Ukraine Zoltan Babiak has received 54.9% or 5 thousand 547 votes. Candidate from the United Center Party Olha Bizilia – 22.91% or 2 thousand 315 votes. The margin between main candidates is 3 thousand 232 votes. 

Recommendations:

To the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

• To create a Temporary investigation commission on violations of electoral legislation during local elections on June 2, 2013;
• To amend the Law of Ukraine on the Elections of Deputies to the Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Deputies of Local Councils, Village, Town and City Heads, and include detailed procedure of using ballot papers;
• To strengthen the rights of NGO observers by amending the Law of Ukraine on the Elections of Deputies to the Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Deputies of Local Councils, Village, Town and City Heads, and include the right on judicial and extrajudicial proceedings, as well as obtaining copies of vote counting protocols;
• To regulate the status of MP of Ukraine in electoral legislation when they are present at polling stations and commissions;
• To standardize the procedure for organization of election and voting process, which are applied on different elections.

To Law enforcement agencies

• To operatively conduct investigation of violations which took place during local elections on June 2, 2013;
•  To constantly inform the public about investigation of electoral violations during local elections on June 2, 2013.

To subjects of the election process

•  To actively use legal mechanisms when proving violations, noticed on June 2, 2013, including judicial examination;
•  To accept a common statement about being interested in objective investigation of electoral violations, which took place during local elections on June 2, 2013.