Territorial election commissions have drawn boundaries in Chernihiv oblast almost a week ago, with adherence to the requirements of the effective law on local elections. Taking into consideration that there are no strict directions for redistricting, observers of the OPORA decided to analyze redistricting process and correlation of the number of voters in Chernihiv city, Chernihiv oblast and its largest raions.
Main and the most logical factor for drawing district boundaries is the average number of voters in each election district. However, the effective legislation doesn't establish precise limits for such average number, saying “maximally close to the average number of voters in election district” (Article 17(5) of the Law of Ukraine on Local Elections). Taking international standards as a guide for its activities, Civil Network OPORA have drawn its attention to the Venice Commission Code of Good Practice in electoral matters. Thus, paragraph 2.2 of the document says: “The permissible departure from the norm should not be more than 10%, and should certainly not exceed 15% except in special circumstances (protection of a concentrated minority, sparsely populated administrative entity)”.
Chernihiv oblast. Gaps in the number of voters in election districts of Chernihiv oblast are due to large quantity of voters in districts within oblast center. While the average number of voters in district is 13387, it reaches number 19038 in Chernihiv city. The highest deviation from the average (+86.4%) was noticed in district #57 with 24947 registered voters.
Chernihiv city. The city was divided into 42 districts, in accordance with the election law. The average number of voters here is 5312 persons. The departure is approximately from 3500 to 7200 persons (from the smallest to the largest district). Districts having the largest number of voters, #40 (7129 persons) and #41 (7178 persons) are drawn in microdistricts Zabarivka and Podusivka. Departure from the averages in percentage is +34.2% and +35.1% respectively. The smallest number of voters (3644 persons) live in district #24 (microdistricts Oleksandrivka and Pivtsi). Departure from the average here is 31.4%.
Bakhmach raion. The variation in number of voters here is quite even if compared to the average number (1067 persons). However, the situation is quite different in the raion center, with three districts having the biggest deviation from the average number of voters: district #4 – 2085 persons (+95.4%); #5 – 2199 persons (by 2 times); and #10 – 2446 (by 2.3 times). District #25 has the smallest number of voters and ‑70% deviation from the average.
Bobrovytsia raion. There are districts having both much higher and much lower numbers of voters than the average number (764 persons). For example, the largest departures were noticed in district #22 (1763 voters, 2.3 times higher than the average number), drawn within villages of Novyi Bykiv, Staryi Bykiv, and settlement of Chystopillia, and district #16 (1516 voters, 2 times higher) which includes a part of village of Kobyzcha. District #32 in the village of Sukhynia has smallest number of voters – 181, what is 4.2 times less than the average number in raion.
Borzna raion. Districts located in the raion center have the largest deviations from the average (826 persons). District #3 has 1808 voters (2.2 times more than the average), district #4 – 1719 voters (2.1 times more), and district #6 – 1839 voters (2.2 times more). District with the smallest number of voters (188) has a deviation of ‑77.2%.
Kozelets raion. Only 5 of 35 districts have considerable deviation from the average number of 1150 voters. They are: district #1 – 5412 persons (4.7 times higher than the average); #2 – 7849 persons (6.8 times higher); #3 – 6663 persons (5.8 times higher); #14 – 3228 persons (2.8 times higher). Districts with the highest number of voters were drawn for election to united territorial communities (districts #2, 14), Kozeltsi Settlement Council (district #3) and Oster City Council (#1).
Mena raion. This raion has similar situation to others and quite even distribution of voters in districts. We should mention that district #11 quite an atypical for the raion, located in town of Makoshyne and village of Ostapivka. While the average number of voters in raion is 895, this district has 1895 voters, i.e. 2.1 times more. Districts in the raion center (#1-7) also have more voters than the average.
Nizhyn raion. The boundaries were drawn creating quite even election districts if compared to the average number (705 voters). The biggest departures from the average were noticed in district #5 (village of Berezanka) having 129 voters (18.3% of the average), and district #14 (villages of Hryhoro-Ivanivka and Kropyvne) having 1437 voters (2 times more than the average).
Chernihiv raion. Districts drawn for election to Chernihiv Raion Council have quite even number of voters if compared to the average (945). However, there are five districts where the number of voters greatly exceeds the average: district #1 (town of Honcharivske) – 2473 voters (2.6 times more than the average in the raion); #2 (town of Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske) – 2370 voters (2.5 times more); #15 (villages of Ivanivka, Kolychiuvka, Yahidne) – 2733 voters (2.9 times more), #17 (villages of Kyinka, Huschyn, Zhavynka) – 2674 voters (2.8 times more) and #39 (village of Staryi Bilous) – 2149 voters (2.3 times more).
Pryluky Raion Council. The biggest departure from average (730 voters per district) was noticed in districts drawn for election to Pryluky Raion Council. Although most of districts have quite even number of voters, two of them have exceptionally exceeding quantity of voters. These districts are: district #1 drawn in town of Ladan and village of Podysche having 5518 voters (7.6 times more than the average), and district #2 drawn in town of Linovytsia having 2152 voters (2.9 times more than the average).
Such information is also interesting from the technological point of view. Thus, according to media jurist Oleksandr Burmahin, candidates nominated in districts with high number of voters will move up votes to ratings of their parties. Civil Network OPORA will continue monitoring such districts in Chernihiv oblast.
For comment, please contact:
Yevhen Romanenko
Coordinator of electoral programs of the Civil Network OPORA
in Chernihiv oblast
068 386 60 54
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Reference:
Civil Network OPORA conducts citizen observation of local elections in Ukraine, scheduled for 25 October 2015. Civic monitoring conducted by OPORA - is a type of network activity, aimed at impartial assessment of the preparation and conduct of elections, as well as preventing electoral violations through comprehensive civic action. 144 long-term observers were deployed to all Ukrainian regions on 5 September, and 3000 short-term observers will join them on the election day.